Kate Klein wasn't allowed to be on Old Las Vegas Highway at night — whether she was driving or not. That was one of the rules, said her father, Barry Klein, who was concerned about drunken drivers on the two-lane road.

"She wasn't supposed to be in that car," Klein said with tears in his eyes. "She made a mistake. But she shouldn't have been killed for making a mistake."

Kate, 16, was one of four teenagers who died Sunday just after midnight when the car she was riding in was hit by a suspected drunken driver going the wrong way on Old Las Vegas Highway.

On Monday morning, hundreds of people came out to Santa Fe Preparatory School's auditorium to mourn the loss of both Kate and her friend, Alyssa Trouw, 16, both of whom were going to be seniors at the school. Monte del Sol students Julian Martinez and Rose Simmons were the other two victims.

Quiet whispers of condolences, hugs and tears were widespread as the community came together and looked at pictures of the girls set up at the front of the auditorium and listened to some of their favorite songs.

"This is a reminder to us, as a community of adults in Santa Fe, the importance of strongly enforcing the (DWI) legislation," said Head of School Jim Leonard. "Kids are the victims of this plague — not the perpetrators. They are the victims."

"The loss is just devastating to the community," said Brad Fairbanks, the theater director at the school. "The whole Santa Fe Prep community will miss them deeply."

Fairbanks had come to know Alyssa well over the last few years because she was involved in the Teen Action Program, which he oversaw. The group cooked meals at St. Elizabeth Shelter. Alyssa served as the group's leader for the 2008-2009 school year.

"She was just a fantastic leader," Fairbanks said. "She was prepared. She led in a really soft way. She could lead people responsibly and they would listen to her. She took the job seriously."

Fairbanks noted that Alyssa hoped to attend Oxford University in England after she graduated from Santa Fe Prep.

Nick Wirth, a history teacher at the school, knew both girls.

"The thing that stands out about both of them is they were both incredible thinkers," Wirth said. "They had a deep sense of wonder and questioning about the world."

Assistant Head of School Stephanie Schlanger said, "Alyssa was a very gifted artist and a brilliant writer."

Will Brown, 18, an incoming senior at Santa Fe Preparatory School, said he and a few friends, including Kate, had a Saturday morning breakfast ritual — usually at Bagelmania.

"Kate was very outspoken," Brown said. "She was not afraid to speak up. She was very, very determined and just very smart."

Brown recalls Alyssa as well.

"She was also very outspoken and had a great sense of humor," he said. "They were two people to look up to for inspiration. They were two very passionate people."

Barry Klein said his daughter, a straight-A student, was an excellent pianist and a whiz at science and math.

"I studied more than 1,000 pages of calculus so I would be able to help her when she had a tough problem," Klein said with a short laugh. "She nailed her school work. She had a report card to thank the heavens for."

Klein said he had a great friendship with his daughter and enjoyed helping her with her homework, helping her practice the piano and teaching her how to cook.

"My friend is gone," Klein said as he fought tears. "People love their kids, but not everyone likes their kids. I really liked my kid."

Kate was his only child.

"This one has broken me," Klein said. "I'm going to miss her forever."

Contact Ana Maria Trujillo at 986-3084 or atrujillo@sfnewmexican.com.