As the Sykesville community mourns the death of a vibrant 13-year-old in a collision last week, the boy’s family was rocked with news late Monday night of the death of the boy’s mother, who was injured in the same collision.

Vincent Dasung Woodward, 13, died in the June 23 crash on Route 32 in Sykesville, and his mother, Kyong Hae “Jennifer” Kim, 51, died late Monday at the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore, according to her husband and Vincent’s father, Robert Woodward.

Woodward described his wife as a “wonderful mom,” but said he was unable to speak about her death Tuesday.

Funeral services for Vincent and Kim have not yet been scheduled, Woodward said.

A public viewing for Vincent is scheduled for Wednesday at Church of the Resurrection, at 3175 Paulskirk Drive, in Ellicott City, from 2-4 p.m. and from 6-8 p.m.

Woodward described his son as smart and outgoing, with a “beaming smile.”

The mother and son were killed as a result of a collision at the intersection of Route 32 and River Road June 23.

The collision occurred just after 5 p.m. when a Mazda, driven by Kim, attempted to make a left turn from River Road onto southbound Route 32 and was struck by a tow truck traveling north on Route 32, according to police. (See related story)

Vincent was seated in the front passenger seat, and his sister, 5-year-old Jacqueline Woodward, also was a passenger. She was treated at Children’s Hospital and has since returned home, her father said.

Praise for son

Born Jan. 3, 1996 in Newport News, Va., Vincent had a form of dwarfism, his father said, adding that Vincent was a member of the Little People of America Inc., a nonprofit support and information organization.

“The way we raised him, we tried to get him to look past that,” his father said. “We told him God packaged you in a special way for a special reason. He was larger than life in a lot of ways.”

Vincent attended West Friendship Elementary School and had just completed the seventh grade at Mt. View Middle School, in Marriottsville.
 
An honors student who was well-liked by his peers, Vincent was elected school president as a sixth-grader, his father said.

Music was among Vincent’s interests. He had taken lessons in piano, violin, guitar and drums, and participated in school chorus.

Vincent occasionally played violin in Masses at Resurrection church, where he was working toward the sacrament of Confirmation, his father said.

“He was a happy kid. ... We couldn’t ask for more,” Woodward said, adding that his son’s goals were just beginning to come together and that he’d planned to help his son develop his aspirations in the coming years.

Woodward said he has experienced an “incredible outpouring” of support from the community.

Three pages on Facebook.com were created as memorials to Vincent, attracting hundreds of members and dozens of heartfelt messages posted by people who described themselves as friends, neighbors, fellow parishioners and teachers.

One message reads: “I think special people like Vincent are put here on earth for only a short time as a gift to us. He showed us how to live, love, and find happiness all around us no matter what obstacles you have to overcome. Even though we will all miss him, we won’t ever forget him. His work is done, may he rest in peace.”

Another person posted: “Vince touched everyone he met in a remarkable way. His presence reminded us all about perspective and gratitude. We have all been blessed to have him be a part of our lives. No one can take your memories away. Hold onto those!”

Peers recalled his participation in drama camp, playing the role of the genie in Aladdin, while others recounted posing for snapshots with him as students parted ways on the last day of school June 19.

“You were the kindest person I knew and made Middle School awesome!” one classmate wrote. “The last year of Middle school will be a real drag without you! I will miss you a lot, R.I.P Vince.”

In addition to his father and sister, Vincent is survived by his paternal grandmother, Carol Davis, of Virginia, his maternal grandfather, Joseph Kim, of Baltimore County, four aunts and uncles, and four cousins.

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