Candlelight vigil to be held for ESU student
By The Emporia Gazette (Contact)
Originally published 03:16 p.m., November 4, 2009
Updated 08:16 a.m., November 5, 2009
An Emporia State University student last seen on Sunday was found dead shortly before 5 p.m. today. “Samuel Williams was involved in a single-vehicle fatality accident,” said Emporia Police Lt. Ed Owens in a news release.
A candlelight vigil will be held at 8 p.m. today for 24-year-old Samuel Emporia State University Jacob Williams, who was killed in a motorcycle accident Sunday afternoon north of Emporia.
Williams was a junior business management major from the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), in western Africa. Authorities suspect Williams lost control of his motorcycle at a curve in the road, struck a road sign, and was thrown from the vehicle. A Lyon County sheriff’s deputy located the body approximately one-tenth mile off the roadway late Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 4.
Williams was an All-American indoor and outdoor track athlete for Emporia State.
ESU’s track team has organized a candlelight vigil for Williams, scheduled for 8 p.m. today at Zola Whitten Track at Welsh Stadium on the ESU campus. Visitors are asked to enter on the west side of the stadium.