Friends, family mourn teens killed in Berks wreck

by Patrick Lester, The Morning Call

Posted on August 15, 2007

Keith Klepac was a predictable young man, from the seemingly permanent, "quirky" smile he wore to his penchant for lateness. His life revolved around football, football and football.

And when friends needed a hand, they knew "K-Pac" would come running.

Klepac, 17, did just that Monday when a friend phoned him, apparently asking for help with someone's car between two-a-day routines on the first day of high school football practice.

It was his final good deed.

Klepac, an Upper Perkiomen High School senior from Hereford Township, and friend Todd Iatarola, 18, a former Upper Perkiomen student from Palm, were killed when Klepac's car crashed into a tractor-trailer on Route 100 in Hereford Township, state police at Reading said.

Investigators say Klepac was driving south and speeding about 1:30 p.m. when his car hit the middle of the trailer, whose driver was turning left onto Nanny Goat Hill Road.

Klepac died at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest from chest injuries, according to the Lehigh County coroner's office.

Iatarola died at the crash scene from blunt force trauma and internal injuries, according to the Berks County coroner.

The driver of the truck, Alan Tanz, 43, of Atco, N.J., was not injured.

Berks County Assistant District Attorney Adrian Shchuka said police are investigating and may be able to release their preliminary findings within a week.

On Tuesday, Klepac was remembered as a loving, "vibrant" and athletic teenager. His mother said he wanted to play football in college. He died hours after the first practice of what was expected to be a promising final football season at Upper Perkiomen.

"He really was a loving kid, and we are definitely going to miss him. It's already way too empty," Vaune Klepac said of her son, who was 4 pounds and 29 days old when she and her husband, Fred, adopted him. He was among three adopted children the couple raised in addition to their own.

Efforts to reach Iatarola's family for comment were unsuccessful.

Iatarola was once a student at Upper Perkiomen but did not graduate, according to Timothy Kirby, superintendent of schools. Iatarola played football while in middle school.

"I sort of lost track of him, unfortunately," Keith Leamer, the school's varsity football coach, said of Iatarola. "He was a nice kid. He worked hard when he was at the middle school. It's a double tragedy."

Mrs. Klepac, who works for the school district as a teacher's aide, said she was making lunch for her son after he returned home from his first morning practice of the season when he got a phone call.

"Someone called for his help," she said between hugs from her son's teammates at the high school Tuesday afternoon. "He always went when someone called for help. He said, 'I'll be back in five minutes."'

Teammates were stunned by the news. The team's scheduled Monday night practice turned into an impromptu memorial. The team decided to dedicate their upcoming season to Klepac and wear a sticker on their helmets with Klepac's nickname -- K-Pac -- and the number 32 he wore for the Indians.

School officials Monday sent grief counselors to the 1,100-student high school and to the crash scene, where large groups of teenagers gathered after the crash.

The school district plans to send two busloads of students, staff, coaches and friends of Klepac's to his Friday memorial service.

"We spent a lot of time crying together and hugging and reminiscing about Keith [Monday]," said Leamer, an elementary school gym teacher who had known Klepac since he was a baby. "We shared funny stories about what he would do to get a laugh or get under a coach's skin. It really helped in the healing process for a lot of kids. It's going to be an ongoing struggle."

At 6 feet tall and 190 pounds, Klepac was playing his third year on the varsity team. He was a starting right cornerback last year for the Indians and was expected to hold that spot this season, Leamer said.

The coach said Klepac had "so much athletic ability, it wasn't funny" and probably could have played college football.

It was Klepac's personality and strong family background that impressed the coach most. Mrs. Klepac, one of the team's most ardent supporters, was overheard at Tuesday's practice telling players to "go kick some butt."

"He touched so many lives with his positive outlook and infectious smile," Leamer said. "He had that little head nod thing and quirky smile."

When Klepac wasn't playing football, he was playing video games, listening to rap music and tinkering with his car, friends said.

"He was always just a little late, but you couldn't stay mad at him," said Dane Kress, 17, a senior captain on the football team. "He was a loving kid and definitely loved to play football. He brightened your day."

Justin Kresge, a senior quarterback and another team captain, said Klepac had friends "from everywhere."

"From Quakertown, from Emmaus. Any surrounding areas," Kresge said. "He always seemed to be in Quakertown."

Services for both teens are scheduled for Friday: Klepac's in Bally and Iatarola's in East Greenville.

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