The funeral was this past Thursday, and I've just gotten back home. It has been, without a doubt, the longest week of my life. It was also a very beautiful service.
Some of the details that I got originally weren't accurate, but as crazy as the past week has been I can understand.
These are the news articles that have been written so far in the newspaper.
I'd also like to thank everyone for their prayers and support.
Saturday, October 22, 2005
Last modified Sunday, October 16, 2005 11:23 AM EDTWoman dies in truck, motorcycle collision on Greene St.
Driver held on $500,000 bond after fleeing scene, say police From Staff Reports
Sunday, October 16, 2005 11:23 AM EDT
CUMBERLAND - A 21-year-old Cumberland woman was killed and a 23-year-old Cumberland man was injured after a truck struck their motorcycle at the intersection of Greene and Johnson streets at 11:24 p.m. Friday, according to the Cumberland Police Department.
Ashley Marie Merced was traveling north on Greene Street on a Honda motorcycle operated by Nathan Alan Dolan when a red Dodge Dakota, attempting to turn onto Johnson Street, failed to yield and collided with the motorcycle, police said.
The driver of the truck, Peter August Rosskamp, 52, Cumberland, stopped momentarily on Johnson Street and then drove toward Interstate 68, police said.
Merced was pronounced dead at the scene and Dolan, who was transported to Memorial Hospital by a Cumberland Fire Department ambulance, sustained serious injuries, according to police reports. No information was available from the hospital on his condition Saturday.
Rosskamp's truck was located, disabled, on Interstate 68, east of Hillcrest Drive; a warrant was issued for Rosskamp, who had fled on foot, and his vehicle was impounded, police said.
Several hours later, Rosskamp turned himself in, and he was served with the arrest warrant, police said.
Rosskamp was charged with negligent manslaughter with an automobile, obstruction of justice, failure to stop vehicle at the scene of an accident involving bodily injury, failure to immediately return and remain at the scene of an accident involving bodily injury, failure of driver involved in accident to render reasonable assistance of injured person, failure of driver in death accident to furnish required identification and license, failure of vehicle driver in accident to report death to nearest police, failure to stop after accident involving damage to attended vehicle, failure of driver involved in accident to give insurance policy information, abandoning vehicle on public property without permission, driving vehicle in excess of reasonable and prudent speed on highway, reckless driving, negligent driving and failure to yield intersection right of way after green arrow signal. He was being held on $500,000 bond.
Saturday, October 22, 2005
Last modified Tuesday, October 18, 2005 10:33 AM EDT Motorcycle accidents remain under investigation
Weekend mishaps claim lives of two county residents From Staff Reports
Tuesday, October 18, 2005 10:33 AM EDT
CUMBERLAND - Motorcycle accidents late Friday and early Sunday in Allegany County that claimed the lives of a Rawlings man and a Cumberland woman remain under investigation.
Early Sunday, a motorcycle accident on U.S. Route 220 at McCoole claimed the life of Harold Van Pelt III, 32, of Rawlings.
Van Pelt was pronounced dead at the scene after he lost control of his 1998 Harley-Davidson motorcycle, skidded and then struck the gate at the north end of the parking lot entrance to the Chat & Chew Restaurant.
Police said there were witnesses to the 1:25 a.m. accident that is still being investigated by the Allegany County Sheriff's Office. Accident reconstruction is part of the investigation.
Anyone having information about the accident should call the sheriff's office at (301) 777-5959.
In another report, Peter A. Rosskamp, 52, of Cumberland, remained jailed Monday on $250,000 bond after his truck struck a motorcycle late Friday on Greene Street, fatally injuring 21-year-old Ashley Marie Merced and also injuring Nathan Alan Dolan, 23, of Cumberland.
Merced was pronounced dead at the scene and Dolan was admitted to Memorial Hospital following the 11:24 p.m. Friday incident. Dolan was listed in stable condition Monday, according to a hospital spokeswoman.
Rosskamp fled the scene and turned himself in to Cumberland Police late Saturday morning. A warrant for his arrest was issued a few hours after the accident after police identified him as the driver of the hit-and-run vehicle.
A short time after the incident, Rosskamp's Dodge Dakota truck was located on eastbound Interstate 68 east of Hillcrest Drive where it had become disabled with a flat tire and damaged tire rim.
Police said the damage apparently resulted from the collision with the 2002 Honda motorcycle operated by Dolan with Merced as a passenger, police said.
Cumberland Police charged Rosskamp with numerous offenses, including negligent manslaughter with an automobile and failure to stop at the scene of an accident involving bodily injury.
The crash investigation is continuing with the assistance of Deputy Chris Miller, an accident reconstruction specialist of the Allegany County Sheriff's Office.
Police said the incident occurred when Rosskamp drove from a complete stop at the traffic light on southbound Greene Street and turned toward Johnson Street and directly into the path of the motorcycle.
Upon impact, the occupants of the motorcycle were ejected and were then run over by the truck operated by Rosskamp, police said.
Police said there were witnesses to the accident, including three motorists who had stopped at the traffic light in the right-hand lane waiting to travel south on Greene Street.
The motorists assisted the victims until Cumberland Fire Department ambulance personnel arrived.
Last modified Tuesday, October 18, 2005 9:23 AM EDT Ashley M. MercedTuesday, October 18, 2005 9:23 AM EDT
CUMBERLAND - Ashley Marie Merced, 21, of Cumberland, died Friday, Oct. 14, 2005, as the result of a motorcycle accident.
Born Sept. 30, 1984, in Cumberland, she was the daughter of Debra Jean (Edwards) Merced and Amado Suarez, Cumberland, and Ronald Joseph Moreno and wife Lisa, Redland, Calif.
Ashley was a sales manager for Donald B. Rice Tire Company and attended Fort Hill High School.
Surviving, in addition to her parents, are C. Jason Brooks and their daughter, Zahra K. Brooks, Fort Ashby, W.Va.; stepmother, Debbie Moreno, Redland; five brothers, Michael Wright, Kissimmee, Rene Merced, Panama City Beach, Joshua Greise, Cumberland, Michael Moreno and Scott Moreno, both of California; four sisters, Melissa Felda, Moriah Felda, both of Cumberland, Kasey Davis and Stacey Adkins, both of California; maternal grandparents, Helen Kick and husband, Denny, Tavernier and William Edwards, Wiley Ford; paternal grandparents, Rachel Martinez and husband Ted, Boise, Idaho and Ron Moreno and wife Virginia, Calif.; and grandma, Merry Dean, LaVale, and her daughters, Angelique Aman-Bowman, and Nissa Collins; and her niece, Shanna Wright.
Ashley was loved by many friends and relatives. She was a wonderful mother whose life revolved around her daughter, Zahra. She embraced life with enthusiasm. That zeal was translated to everyone who she loved. Ashley was determined to succeed in life and her ambition was always admired by those who knew her. Those who knew her best will always remember the joy she brought to their lives.
Friends will be received at the Scarpelli Funeral Home, P.A., 108 Virginia Ave., Cumberland, on Tuesday from 7 to 9 p.m. and Wednesday from 3 to 9 p.m.
Funeral services will be conducted at the funeral home on Thursday at noon with the Rev. Sherrill A. Dillon officiating.
There will be visitation one hour prior to the service.
To send condolences to the family visit http://www.scarpellifh.com.
