Erica Trudy Knell, age 17, passed away Friday, September 5th from injuries sustained in an automobile accident. Erica was born November 26, 1990 in Chicago, Illinois and grew up in Hong Kong, China and Park City, Utah. She was an international girl, spending most of her young years traveling the world with her family. She trekked in Nepal, searched for antiques in China, went on safari in Africa, climbed the pyramids in Egypt, pondered in the Garden of Gethsemane, wondered at the Sistine Chapel, and hiked the fjords of Norway. Most recently, her favorite spot (besides Park City) was Lake Powell, which she visited annually with her family and Hong Kong friends.
Erica was a beautiful, active girl. She was full of energy and spirit. She loved to dance and was a member of the Park City High School dance team. She was a gifted gymnast and was twice the Hong Kong all-around champion. She trained with the Chinese national gymnastics team and regularly attended training in Guangzhou and Beijing, China. Later, she took up free-style aerials. She loved to fly and flip and spin through the air, and was a U.S. Ski Team hopeful this year.
Erica was a bright student and graduated with honors from high school following her junior year. She had just begun her studies at the University of Utah. She was cheerful and loving, and always the first to greet you with a hug and tell you that she loved you. Erica loved all types of people she never judged, and had recently overcome some big challenges herself and grown into a mature, sensitive young woman. She was small in stature, but big in heart.
Ericas parents want to remind all PCHS students to wear their seat belts. Each one of your lives is as precious as Ericas was.