By Michael Amon
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, April 1, 2004; Page SM01

The left turn from Billingsley Road onto northbound Route 5 in Waldorf was a familiar crossing for the Foster family. It led to Grace Brethren Church, an institution at the center of the lives of Joseph and Janet Foster and their four children.

On Saturday, Joseph Foster and two of his sons -- Joseph Jr., 21, and Kevin, 15 -- were headed that way again, this time to drop off trash at the county landfill and then to Waldorf to buy meat for a family dinner.

About 6:15 p.m., as the sun set behind them, Joseph Foster pulled his Chevrolet Suburban onto Route 5 from Billingsley and was immediately struck by a Dodge Avenger headed south on the busy highway, the Maryland State Police said.

Joseph Foster and his elder son were flown by helicopter to Prince George's Hospital Center.

Kevin Foster was thrown from the sport utility vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said.

As authorities continue to investigate the crash this week, family, friends, church leaders and teammates grieved for Kevin, a popular freshman and football player at La Plata High School. Six Southern Maryland teenagers were killed in vehicle crashes last year; Kevin is the first this year.

"Really, this is a devastating loss," said Cliff Nagle, La Plata High School athletic director. "He had a promising future -- as a player here, academically and personality-wise."

Just one look at Kevin, his coaches say, told you the teenager was going places. With his confident smile and broad shoulders, the freshman carried himself down the hallways of La Plata High School like a leader.

Coaches and relatives say Kevin was something of a Renaissance man -- the starting quarterback of the freshman football team, an honor student and the organizer of a Bible study group he held at his parents' La Plata house. Six feet tall with a wiry frame, he could still bench press as much as the team's beefy linemen.

Though popular, he didn't consider himself above classmates. He would help students with their homework, telling them, "Just keep trying, just keep trying," said freshman football coach Rashad Cook.

Kevin's fresh face belied an inner strength, family members said. "He was really developing into a man," said his older brother, David Foster. "He wasn't following anyone anymore. He had come into his own."

Kevin grew up just outside the La Plata town limits, in a one-story house built on the old tobacco farm of his grandparents. In front of his home stretches a long, wide, green lawn where he learned to throw a football from his older brother Joey, who also played quarterback in high school.

"He loved it so much," said Joey Foster, who was released from the hospital Monday.

The practice paid off in high school. While many young teams stick to a running game, the freshman Warriors relied more on the young arm of Kevin, who could throw 30 to 40 yards downfield with accuracy, Joey Foster said.

In his first game in September, Kevin threw a touchdown pass and led the team to a 12-6 victory over McDonough High School, Cook said. Though the squad finished with a 2-8 record, Kevin remained optimistic, the coach said.

"His father told me a few times that Kevin would come home so excited about the team," Cook said. "We had a real family environment on this team. That's why we're taking it so hard."

Off the field, Kevin studied hard and earned good grades. He also made time for, his brothers say, the most important part of his life: his faith in God. At Grace Brethren Church, where his mother worked as a secretary, he was involved with youth groups. He openly spoke of his beliefs with friends and family, his brothers say.

"If there was anything Kevin wanted people to know about him, it would be his faith in Jesus," David Foster said.

On Saturday, the last day of his life, Kevin spent much of the day involved with the two pillars of his life: church and family.

In the morning, Kevin and several other young people put on a car wash to raise money for a church group trip, David Foster said. And in the evening, when his father made a routine trip to the landfill, Kevin rode along for the company.

"He would never miss an opportunity to go somewhere with his father," David Foster said.