Albany Native Arlene Sasse Killed in Sacramento

Family and friends are today mourning the death of Arlene Sasse, a longtime Albany resident who would have graduated from CSU Sacramento next month.

Sasse died early Friday morning in Sacramento when she was struck on her bicycle in front of the university.

She had attended Albany schools from preschool through high school. “She was a wonderful girl,” said longtime family friend David Pirkle. “We’re all just devastated.”

Sasse, 22, was crossing J Street at the Carlson Drive intersection about 1:45 a.m., when she was struck by a vehicle traveling westbound on J Street. Police said the driver did not see Sasse, whose bicycle did not have a light or reflectors.

Sacramento Police are investigating whether the driver, a woman in her 60s who stopped after the crash, was traveling too fast and whether she had the green light to proceed through the intersection, the Sacramento Bee reported. No alcohol or drugs appear to be involved, police said.

A psychology major, Sasse had hoped for a career in occupational psychology. The daughter of Albany resident Mieke Van Wolferen and Tonny Sasse of Livermore, Sasse was born in the Netherlands but moved to the U.S. when she was 3, when her father took a research position at UC Berkeley.

She was an avid volleyball player, playing on the Albany High team and the Golden Bear Volleyball Club in Berkeley.

Besides her parents, she is survived by an older sister, Dimphy Sasse of Chicago, brother Luuk Sasse of Santa Cruz and boyfriend Sam Vincent of Oakland.

Pirkle said that the family is still finalizing funeral arrangements.

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