HINSDALE | Local Teen and Her Dad Die In Tragic Accident, Remembering Kendall Pickering

A TRAGIC LOSS FOR THE LOCAL COMMUNITY OF HINSDALE

Heartbreaking news has the community of Hinsdale in mourning this week. Kendall Pickering, a rising star at Hinsdale Central High School in Illinois, and her father Robert Pickering died in a car accident Tuesday, reports SwimmingWord.com and CBS-Chicago. Pickering was a 15 years old sophomore at Hinsdale Central High School.

It is reported that the accident occurred while their car was traveling on Interstate 85 near Kannapolis, North Carolina. The accident remains under investigation.

We learned that Pickering had just finished her sophomore season at Hindsdale Central. She won two events at an Illinois High School Association (IHSA) sectional in October, one of 16 sectional meets in the state. Pickering won the 200 individual medley in 2:03.35, the 100 butterfly in 55.03 and the 100 breaststroke in 1:03.44. She was ranked by SwimCloud as the fourth-best girls swimming recruit in the Class of 2023 in Illinois.

“I’ve known her almost my whole life and just couldn’t believe it when my mom told me what had happened,” Baileigh Racky, a long-time friend of Pickering, told the Chicago Tribune. “She loved her friends and loved swimming. She wanted to be in the Olympics.”

Hinsdale Central principal William Walsh released a statement on Pickering’s passing:

It is with deep and profound sadness that I inform you of the tragic passing of Kendall Pickering and her father Robert. Kendall was a beloved member of our school community whose strong work ethic, tireless dedication and passionate leadership helped her shine in the classroom and excel in the pool. Most importantly, she was a wonderful student, classmate, teammate and friend who left an indelible mark on all of us. We will miss her terribly, and always remember her with great fondness and affection.

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