Carolina Ballet Dancer Killed by Drunk Driver

Lindsay Live | Sep 16, 2009 | there are 1 comments 1

Our condolences go out to the family and friends of Elena Shapiro, the 20-year-old trainee dancer with Carolina Ballet who was killed last Friday when a drunk driver struck her car in north Raleigh.

According to police reports, the driver was Dr. Raymond Cook, a cosmetic surgeon and assistant professor at the UNC School of Medicine in Chapel Hill. Dr. Cook was reportedly driving his car at 85 mph in a 45 mph zone when the accident occurred. He has been charged with second degree murder.

The Carolina Ballet has announced they will dedicate the upcoming performances of "Swan Lake" to the young dancer.

More about Elena and a video of her friends and family speaking out on The Today Show after the jump:

From the Carolina Ballet website:

Elena Shapiro grew up in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and began her serious ballet training at age 10 at North Carolina School of the Arts' preparatory program where she ended up staying through high school. While at the School of the Arts she performed the role of Gerda in Nina Danilova's The Snow Queen and danced in Balanchine's Serenade for the Melissa Hayden Memorial Tribute. Ms. Shapiro also trained during the summers at Hungarian National Ballet, Houston Ballet, Miami City Ballet, School of American Ballet and National Ballet School of Canada. She comes to Carolina Ballet after a year as a trainee with Boston Ballet.

On Wednesday, friends and fellow dancers at the Carolina Ballet spoke to The Today Show. Watch the video HERE.

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Update

According to the local news in Raleigh, the alleged killer, Dr. Cook, had been drinking all afternoon on the golf course and then had two more drinks at a pub later that evening. He left the pub at 8:15, and the crash occurred 15 minutes later.

Seriously, how hard is it to call a cab? There is absolutely no excuse for driving drunk. What a senseless and avoidable tragedy... My prayers are with the Shapiro family!

user icon Lindsay Live | Sep 16, 2009 | rated none by 0 others

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