At school, Elaine Schmitz devoted all her attention to the children.

“She would notice the small things – the new pair of flip-flops, the new pencil, the new hairstyle,” said Amy Wintermantel, a fifth-grade teacher in Baldwin who had Schmitz in her classroom as a paraprofessional.

Schmitz was killed Wednesday after being struck by an oncoming sand truck on U.S. Highway 59, leaving friends and family to wonder what happened.

One witness said Schmitz didn’t slow or try to stop as she crossed U.S. 59 on westbound County Road 460 near Zarco 66, 718 East 1300 Road. Diane Hilbert, Schmitz’s sister, said she believed Schmitz was going from her home in Baldwin to run errands in Lawrence – a route that wouldn’t have required her to cross U.S. 59.

“We actually can’t completely understand,” Hilbert said. “She should have been turning on to 59.”

Still, Hilbert and other family members weren’t dwelling on the details of how the wreck happened.

“It’s not going to change anything,” she said.

Ottawa resident Garold Marconette, 57, the driver of the truck that struck Schmitz’s Chevrolet Malibu, had no memory of the wreck when troopers interviewed him Wednesday, a Kansas Highway Patrol dispatcher said. He was in fair condition Thursday evening at University of Kansas Hospital, Kansas City, Kan.

Schmitz

The highway patrol is still reconstructing the accident, a process that could take several days. Marconette’s truck sheared Schmitz’s car in half, and the truck then skidded into the Zarco parking lot and damaged fuel pumps.

It didn’t appear drugs or alcohol were a factor, but blood tests have been taken from both drivers, the dispatcher said. Results could take several weeks.

Scott Zaremba, president of Zarco, said the store opened late Wednesday night despite initial statements that it would be closed for several weeks. He said three of the store’s four gas pumps were working Thursday but that it would take four to six weeks to make permanent repairs.

Hilbert said Schmitz was the second-oldest of 11 children and was popular among her many nieces and nephews.

“The kids would just migrate to her,” she said. “She was number two. That’s probably why she was so mothering.”

6News video: Loss of paraeducator leaves gap in Baldwin school district (05-26-05)

KHP still working details of wreck (05-27-05)

For many, U.S. 59 work can’t start soon enough (05-27-05)

Obit: Elaine M. Schmitz, Baldwin (05-27-05)

Woman killed in wreck on U.S. 59 (05/26/05)

Schmitz was married with three daughters, ages 25, 23, and 19.

She had worked for Baldwin public schools for seven years and was a paraprofessional at Baldwin Elementary School Intermediate Center. Principal Tom Mundinger issued a statement calling her a “loyal, dedicated and determined staff member.”

She was one of two paraprofessionals in Wintermantel’s fifth-grade class for the past school year. Tuesday was her last full day at work for the school year.

“The last time I saw Mrs. Schmitz, she was hugging kids goodbye,” Wintermantel said. “That’s my last image, and it’s a good one.”