Former Enfield High School Student-Athlete Killed In Rollover Crash

ENFIELD, CT ? Adrian Kluk, a Polish immigrant who competed in football and track at Enfield High School prior to his graduation in 2011, was killed early Saturday morning in a single-vehicle rollover crash in Agawam, Mass. He was 29.

Around 3 a.m., police received multiple calls for a rollover accident on South Street, between routes 75 and 159. Two utility poles were sheared and live wires were in the road. Lt. Dan Bonafilia confirmed Kluk was pronounced dead at the scene.

An investigation into the crash is ongoing, Bonafilia said.

Kluk, whose family came to the United States in 1999, was a member of the Enfield football program from 2007 through 2010. During his tenure, the Raiders beat crosstown rival Fermi three times, including a 28-8 victory in the final Thanksgiving Day matchup between the two in 2009.

Other memorable wins included a 2008 miracle against Berlin, which had been Class M runner-up the prior season. Trailing 50-26 early in the fourth quarter, Enfield rallied for four touchdowns to snare an improbable 52-50 victory. In 2010, a year in which the Raiders finished with a 7-3 record, Kluk served as a team captain, with the highlight being a 31-16 victory over a Gilbert/Northwestern/Housatonic tri-op team which eventually became a state semifinalist that season.

"Adrian was one of the hardest workers on and off the football field," former coach Jay Gaucher said. "He was always there for his family and friends. Such a nice young man who will be truly missed."

Kluk also excelled in track, running a leg of the 4x100 relay team which won the Class M championship in 2010. A year later, Kluk and his relay teammates finished second.

Retired Enfield High School principal Tom Duffy said, "Adrian was certainly a "Blue Ribbon" kind of a person. Trustworthy, honest, hardworking and caring. A good student and great example; a "schoolful" of Adrians would have been a palace. I met his parents on a few occasions. They were kind and proud. I feel very bad that they suffered this loss."

Following high school, Kluk earned a bachelor's degree in business management at Southern Connecticut State University. He began working as a salesman at Firestone, and quickly ascended to store manager of the franchise in Westfield, Mass., according to his obituary from Carmon Community Funeral Homes.

"His success led to him being transferred to West Springfield to turn around the store which had recently been underperforming," according to the obituary. "Several of Adrian?s staff followed him to West Springfield and the store was returning to profitability."

Kluk is survived by his parents, Stanislaw and Danuta Kluk; siblings Alina, Lukasz and Przemyslaw; his grandparents in Poland; and numerous other relatives and friends.

His family will receive friends Friday, Nov. 4 from 5-8 p.m. at the Nicholson & Carmon Funeral Home, 443 East Street North, Suffield. Family and friends will gather Saturday, Nov. 5 at 8:30 a.m. at the funeral home, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at SS. Cyril & Methodius Church, 63 Popieluszko Court, Hartford. Burial will follow in St. Patrick's King Street Cemetery in Enfield.