1983 Tragedy
Keith Myers |
Eddie Hartman |
My name is Paco (Joe) Myers but I go by Paco and this page is to remember the life of my brother, Keith Alan Myers, and our good friend, Eddie Hartman, who were both killed by a drunk driver in 1983.
Year 2023 marks 40 years since their deaths and Eddie was to be married the next day to his high school sweetheart (Mary Beth Diamond) - LET THAT SINK IN!
My brother, Eddie and I grew up playing baseball together in Meridian just north of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania.
Keith and Eddie along with Andy Bernard and Calvin Troup graduated from Geneva College together where Eddie was a star quarterback with Andy and Calvin on the football team as well.
Pancho Harvey |
|
It was Memorial Day weekend of 1983 when my brother left home to go the rehearsal dinner.
Keith, Eddie, Andy, Calvin, Pancho Harvey and Greg Gillespie (no picture available) left the rehearsal dinner to have one more night to hang out together since after the wedding they were all going their separate ways.
No alcohol was served at the rehearsal dinner because Eddie did not believe it was Biblical in todays world for him as a Jesus follower to have alcohol. My brother did not drink either for the same reason.
My brother was driving his car with all the men with him. As they were on a exit ramp a car driven by Lawrence Rodgers (43 at the time) from Etna an area in Pittsburgh, drove the wrong way on the ramp hitting my brothers car head on.
You can read the news article here 1983 Tragedy.
My bother and Eddie were killed instantly. Andy, Calvin and Pancho were rushed to the hospital in critical condition and Greg walked away from the accident with some bumps and bruises.
Rodgers and his wife, Nellie, the only passenger in his car, had no life threatening injuries.
The blood alcohol of Rogers was extremely high and he later admitted he was angry at his wife and intended to kill himself and his wife.
Due to the blood alcohol level and because Eddie was to be married the next day this case became a landmark case to bring more strict penalties for drunk driving. This story was reported across the country.
Andy, Calvin and Pancho who were hospitalized spent months in recovery with major life threatening injuries. Greg was the only one that walked away with bumps and bruises but did not escape emotional trauma.
There have been lifelong effects since that day. Andy, Calvin, Pancho and Greg had survivor's guilt and even though Greg walked away he unfortunately died of survivor's guilt.
Andy, Calvin and Pancho were in the hospital for months and still have major aches and pains due to the many broken bones they all had.
Sadly Pancho passed away from leukemia on September 29, 2023.
I did not know until the last few years they all struggled with survivor's guilt except for Greg who lost his battle with survivor's guilt on January 7, 2014 and ironically alcohol was the cause of his demise as well due to alcoholism.
Andy told me he never lost consciousness during the accident and heard all of the moans and could see the blood and mangled bodies in the car.
Eddie's high school sweetheart, Mary Beth, the next day instead of waking up anticipating marrying the man she loved she received a phone call informing her the love of her life was killed.
I would also like to add my parents, Jack and Ann Myers, who dealt with the loss of their first child, Cindy, at 8 months from spasmodic croup and then lost Keith when he was 22 so they endured a lot and I wanted to memorialize Cindy too.
My mom had compassion on Lawrence Rodgers and corresponded with him while he was in prison. She forgave him for taking her sons life and kept in touch with him until we believe his death a few years ago as she received a returned Christmas card she sent him and we can no longer locate him.
I am sad Cindy never had the opportunity to live a very long life and that I never was able to meet that precious little one, even though she would have been my big sister:)
Cindy Myers
My brother, Eddie, Andy, Calvin, Pancho and myself know Jesus as our Savior.
My brother, Eddie and Pancho are in Heaven right now. Do you know where you will be when you leave this earth?
If you would like to learn more about Biblical Truth and where you will be after you leave this earth, please visit A Biblical Church.