Jeremy Brilliant/Eyewitness News
Morgan County – Police say it may be a week before they conclude an investigation into why an SUV crossed the center line and collided with an ambulance, killing two people and injuring one.
The Brown Township ambulance was struck Monday on State Road 144 near Mann Road.
On Tuesday, City of Lawrence firefighters washed a Brown Township fire engine. The crew from Lawrence is part of a rotation of firefighters from various cities filling in so members of the Brown Township Department can mourn the death of 40-year-old fire Capt. David Sherfick.
“We felt this was a way for us to show our gratitude to a fallen brother,” said Lawrence firefighter Kris Kell. “Let their guys have a few days off and provide them coverage with the other fire departments that will be down here.”
Monday afternoon, an SUV driven by 45-year-old James Hoskins of Nashville crossed the center line on State Road 144 and crashed head on into an ambulance driven by Captain Sherfick. Both men were killed, a reserve firefighter in the ambulance was injured. It’s not known why Hoskins crossed into the oncoming traffic lane. Weather has been ruled out as a factor and the ambulance was not on an emergency run.
Since the accident, the Brown Township Trustee’s office has been inundated with phone calls.
“I have people stopping by wanting to help in any way they could to do anything they can. There’s just no words for it,” said Brown Township Trustee Al Hornaday.
Joe Stallsworth dropped off a check to help the 10-year-old son of a fallen firefighter he’d never met.
“It hits close to home ’cause it was just around the corner,” said Stallsworth. “You know, these people help everybody in our community, so everybody should step up and help them now in their time of need.”
In his 17 years of service, David Sherfick made a lot of friends – some he knew well, others he never met.
“Not because he’s gone…he was just a wonderful person,” said Trustee Hornaday.
James Hoskins, the civilian who was killed, was returning from his job in Indianapolis to his home in Nashville, Indiana at the time of the crash. He is survived by his wife, three stepchildren and two grandchildren.
Funeral information for David Sherfick:
A calling will be held at Mooresville First United Methodist Church, 900 Indianapolis Road, Mooresville on Thursdayfrom 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Services will be held Friday 2/8/08 at Mooresville High School, 10:00 a.m. Processsion will follow.
