By Christopher Williams,Staff Writer
Two months after a deadly car crash, family has many reminders, few answers

AUBURN – The framed picture shows the chair where he would have sat. On it, a single yellow rose lies atop a folded burgundy gown. A matching cap and diploma are propped next to it.

The photograph was taken at Kenny Jellison’s high school graduation a week ago.

The 18-year-old senior had worked hard to graduate. He hated school. But he’d taken on extra coursework to make up for subjects he’d failed. A teacher had called him in March to tell him the good news.

A week later, he was dead.

He likely was killed instantly April 5 when the car he was riding in slammed into a street lamp at Canal and Lisbon streets.

Police said the car was speeding; its driver admitted he was racing.

But Kenny Jellison’s younger brother said there was no race. He was a passenger in the other car. The two cars were headed to the Promenade Mall. Both were stopped at a red light. They started again. Travis’ car stopped for a red light. The other car sped on.

Moments later, Travis stood looking at the smashed passenger window of the other car. The bloodied front passenger seat had been pushed into the back. His brother’s head was turned as if looking out the window. His eyes were open, but they didn’t blink. Travis knew Kenny was dead.

“I think I knew it as soon as I saw him, but they told me they weren’t sure yet,” 15-year-old Travis Jellison said Thursday, his eyes welling with tears.

He turned and walked away from the ruined car, across a parking lot. A cop told him: “He didn’t make it.”

Travis screamed. Then he punched the wall of an office building.

The next day, many of the kids at school wandered in and out of classes. Some stayed home.

Now, two months later, things at school are back to normal.

But Travis isn’t. He and Kenny were always together. Working on cars at their neighbor’s grease pit. Playing sports. Joking around.

Travis remembers his brother wanting to be a professional drifter. He wanted to see Japan. After graduation, they hoped to take a road trip to Canada with friends.

Kenny had only traveled as far as Virginia to visit his aunt.

At school, Travis Jellison doesn’t talk to Kyle Karkos, the driver of the car Kenny was in.

Karkos’ family called the day after the accident. Kenny’s mother Linda wasn’t interested in talking.

“We don’t want any contact with them,” she said Thursday.

“I’ve got a lot of anger,” she said. “Kyle can go home at night to his mother and grandparents. The only way we can see Kenny is at his grave.”

Kids at school have divided loyalties, Travis said.

“There’s definitely a split,” he said. He and Kenny’s friends go online to a kids’ Web site to talk to each other. Travis goes there to talk to his brother.

Linda Jellison said she’s also angry that police haven’t completed their investigation of the accident. She’s made a lot of calls but has gotten few answers.

“It’s been hard,” she said. “I think I have just banged my head against the wall.”

Androscoggin County District Attorney Norman Croteau said state police are still working on the accident reconstruction report.

Linda Jellison has Kenny’s original cap and gown in its original wrapping. She’s put the rose in the freezer.

She has Kenny’s real diploma. The one the school had propped on the chair was blank.

The Jellison family went to Kenny’s graduation. But they didn’t hear his name called. It happened too fast, Linda said.

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