Tuesday, Mar. 09, 2010

Former East star Vincent killed in car crash

A former basketball and track star from Olathe East was the victim of an early Sunday crash.

Tamara Vincent, 25, was killed when her car veered off Interstate 70 at Interstate 435 around 3:45 a.m., according to Kansas City police. Vincent lost control, left the road and struck a large exit sign pole. Fire consumed her Nissan Altima.

Vincent had a full scholarship to play basketball for Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College after her graduation from Olathe East in 2003. As a senior, she was chosen for the all-star Johnson County team. She also had an impressive record in track and field.

Vincent came from a family of basketball players, including her brother Thomas Vincent and sister Tiffany Vincent, who played with Tamara on Olathe East’s team.

“Tamara was just a terrific kid,” said Olathe East basketball coach Jeff Hulse. “Her family was very supportive of Olathe East and all the academics and athletic programs that we had. She was just bubbly, had a contagious sense of humor, beaming smile, somebody you loved to be around. She was just passionate for life … She was the difference-maker for many people in their lives.”

As a guard, Vincent set a school record for 12 steals in her final home game against Shawnee Mission West.

“She was a really hard worker and a very unselfish player,” Hulse said. “We used her to guard the best player on the other team.”

Police said Vincent was probably on her way home from an event Saturday night. She was wearing a seatbelt. They are still investigating what caused her to veer off the road.

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