New York Newsday
Wednesday, April 7, 2004 BLOOD CLOT KILLED STUDENT
By Deborah S. Morris & Rocco Parascandola
A blood clot killed the Upper West Side teen who collapsed
in a midtown subway station and died a few hours later,
the medical examiner has ruled.
But officials still must conduct further tests to determine
what caused the clot that killed Zakiya Kennedy, an aspiring
model and fashion designer.
"Everybody loved her. She didn't run the streets. She
just wanted to pursue her talents," said her father, Kevin
Kennedy.
He said the 5-foot-9 Zakiya was preparing to audition
for stint on the reality TV series "America's Next Top
Model" and hoped for a career in show business. "I was
supposed to take her out Sunday to a show, a movie," said
Kennedy, who is visiting the city from Pennsylvania.
"I spoke to her Friday and she said she was bored. So
I told her I would be home Sunday to take her out. And
now this."
Kennedy, 18, collapsed Friday night a short time after
she tripped at a subway station at West 42nd Street and
Sixth Avenue. She died at Bellevue Hospital Center a few
hours later.
Early reports suggested the Berkeley College student died
after suffering injuries at the hand of her boyfriend,
who allegedly pushed her during a quarrel, but police
have now ruled out that theory.
A high-ranking police official said Kennedy used a contraceptive
patch but was not wearing it at the time of her death.
The patch, which prevents ovulation by tricking the body
into thinking it is pregnant, can increase the likelihood
of blood clots. The clots can lead to a pulmonary embolism,
stroke or heart attack.
Clotting risks associated with patches are reported to
be low, according to federal statistics. But women of
any age who have a history of high blood pressure, diabetes
and cancer are counseled to avoid the patch and birth-control
pills.
Kennedy's father said his family just wants to get to
the bottom of the mystery. "We are confused. We hope to
have more information in a day or two," he said.
A wake and funeral are scheduled for Saturday morning.
Details were not available last night.
