Franklin teen dies after crash

A Franklin teen who died after being seriously injured in an accident was known for her talent as a dancer, while also avoiding the spotlight.

Emma R. Moore, 17, excelled at ballet and danced on the Le Rose Dance Academy’s competition team. She won a scholarship to dance in New York City. But at the same time, she also was known for staying in the background and letting other people have the spotlight, said Amanda Nixon, owner of the academy where Moore had danced for most of her life.

“She did not yearn for the limelight, she was happy letting everyone else shine,” Nixon said.

Moore died Monday at Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health, where she had been taken after a car accident on Friday night. Moore was one of five people injured in the crash that happened just after 11 p.m. when a semi struck a car turning onto Bartram Parkway off State Road 44, just east of Franklin.

Another passenger, 16-year-old Cynthia Lenkey, remains in the hospital in good condition. Driver Kathleen Moore, 32, and passengers Elizabeth G. Bennett, 16, Aden Smith, 16, were treated and released earlier this week, according to an IU Health spokesman.

Moore was very passionate about dance, taking lessons three days a week at Le Rose Dance Academy since she was about 3 years old, Nixon said.

She thrived on helping others and had a strong worth ethic. She was a teaching assistant for a dance class for special needs students, where she would help her students master the moves.

“She adored that,” Nixon said.

Moore rarely missed a dance class unless something school-related came up. She was talented and would push herself to succeed, Nixon said.

“She didn’t need to be pushed forward all the time,” she said.

A guest instructor came to teach the dancers hip-hop, a dance genre that was outside Moore’s comfort zone. Moore learned the moves and excelled. She received a scholarship for dance classes in New York City next summer.

“If you let her know you thought she could it, she could absolutely do it,” Nixon said.

Reporter Annie Goeller contributed to this report.