By LAURIE BESANCENEY
Enterprise Staff Writer
SARANAC LAKE - A Paul Smith's College student and his friend were killed when a snowmobile he was driving hit a rock early Sunday morning. It was the second tragedy to shake the campus in just over a week.
Joshua Rau, 20, of Emmons, Pa. and Kristeen Guest, a student at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Conn., both died on Lower St. Regis Lake.
"This is a terrible tragedy and a devastating blow to the campus community," Paul Smith's College President John Mills said in a prepared statement. "On behalf of Paul Smith's, I wish to express my deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Josh and Kristeen."
Rau was in his second year in the natural resources program at Paul Smith's and was an active member of the campus community, according to school officials. He was an enthusiastic participant in the college's fund-raising phonathon, interacting effectively with many alumni, and was employed during the summer by the college's Adirondack Watershed Institute.
There have been counseling sessions and meetings in the residence halls to discuss the loss since Sunday evening. In addition, the campus is making available additional counseling services for students and staff and a memorial service on campus is planned.
The Saranac Lake Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad responded to the call at 5:54 a.m. with three trucks and 18 members.
It was the second death of a student in just over a week for Paul Smith's. Stephen E. Welch, 19, of Poultney, Vt., better known as "Scuba," was killed in a car accident on state Route 86 in Gabriels on Jan. 29 when his vehicle became airborne, striking a tree.
