Student killed in collision

Last Friday, Helen Walker drove 20 miles from her hometown of Sugar Land, Texas, to Houston to spend the evening reminiscing with friends and watching movies.\nThe IU senior had been home for a week. Fresh from a successful stint as stage manager for the Bloomington community production of "A Chorus Line," Walker was doubtlessly ready for a little relaxation. \nShortly after 1 a.m., she got back in her Ford Explorer and prepared to make the half-hour trek back to Sugar Land.\nShe never made it home.\nA few blocks from her friend's apartment, she was struck by a drunk driver exceeding speeds of 100 mph while proceeding through a green light, her mother said.\nThe autopsy report indicated Walker was killed instantly, though paramedics attempted to resuscitate her. The official time of death was reported at 1:30 a.m., 20 minutes after emergency vehicles arrived on the scene.\nJohn Leggio, spokesperson for media relations for the Houston Police Department, said Helen had the right of way when an unidentified male driving a Dodge pickup ran a red light and struck her vehicle on the driver's side. The DWI task force administered an on-scene field sobriety test, which the driver failed. He was then transported to a local hospital for mandatory blood tests. The results of those tests have not yet been released.\nTheresa Walker said she will testify in the driver's trial on behalf of her daughter if needed, as will her husband and son, Aaron. Charges of driving under the influence, assault with a deadly weapon and vehicular manslaughter are pending. The trial is expected to convene in about three months, according to the Houston District Attorney's office.\nHer death has left a void in the hearts of her friends and family. Remembered by her parents as a dedicated student and hard worker, Helen's work ethic proved particularly influential to those associated with her in various IU productions. \nSenior Josh Huff worked with Walker in theatre productions of "Pippin" and "A Chorus Line" and spoke of her "amazing work ethic." Huff said he always thought he'd work with her again in the upcoming season.\n"She really loved what she did," Huff said. "Stage manager is such a thankless job, but she never even cared about being thanked. She was just so selfless."\nWalker's mother said her daughter began acting in community theatre when she was 8 years old. She continued performing onstage until her senior year of high school, when she found what Walker termed "her true love" in theatre's technical aspects.\nShe dreamed of working in professional theatre and was working toward degrees in computer science and technical theater. She was also minoring in American Sign Language.\n"She had a passion to learn things where she could communicate, especially humorously, with all sorts of people," her mother said.\nHelen was offered an opening position as assistant stage manager with the William H. Hobby Theatre in Houston, her mother said. She was planning on moving to Houston upon graduating in May 2002 to begin work there.\nHuff also remembers Walker as a "funny, fun-loving" individual who always treated everyone fairly and said he firmly believes she would have made a tremendous impact in the realm of professional theatre.\n"She was the kind of individual that never let an opportunity for fun or mischief pass," her mother said. "She never let anyone perform an injustice in front of her. If there was an underdog in a particular situation, she would stand up to anyone to ensure that person was treated in a just and right manner."\nHelen is survived by her parents, Michael and Theresa Walker; brother, Aaron Walker; paternal grandfather, Lewis Walker of Sugar Land; maternal grandparents, Francis and Maria Elena Flood of El Paso, Texas; great aunts, Sister Mary Kathleen Flood and Isabel Flood of El Paso, Texas; and numerous other relatives.\nIn lieu of flowers, donations in Helen's name can be made to Indiana University, c/o Dept. of Theatre and Drama, 1211 E. 7th St., Room 200, Bloomington, IN 47405-1111. The cast of "A Chorus Line" is also naming a star in her honor.