Article reprinted from the Martinsville Daily Reporter

Firefighter, Nashville man die in accident

By Keith Rhoades
krhoades@...

Tuesday February 5, 2008


Morgan County

Two people died in a head-on crash involving a Brown Township
ambulance at Ind. 144 and Mann Road in northern Morgan County at about
3:50 p.m. Monday.

Brown Township Fire Department Capt. David Sherfick, 40, Mooresville,
was driving an ambulance for the township west on Ind. 144 just west
of Mann Road when the ambulance was struck head-on by a 2002 Jeep
driven by James R. Hoskins, 45, Nashville.

Both men were pronounced dead at the scene by Morgan County Deputy
Coroner Ted Lang.

Reserve firefighter Evan Kerkhof, 22, Mooresville, a passenger in the
ambulance was injured. He was transported to Methodist Hospital for
treatment.

Sherfick was returning from transporting a patient to an Indianapolis
hospital.

Investigators said Sherfick and Kerkhof were returning to their fire
station in Mooresville when the accident occurred. They were westbound
on Ind. 144, when an eastbound Jeep driven by Hoskins, crossed the
center line and hit the ambulance head on.

According to witnesses, this accident happened so quickly, Sherfick,
who is a 17-year veteran of the department, had no chance to take
evasive maneuvers to avoid the collision. At this time, authorities do
not know what caused Hoskins to cross the center line of the highway.

The accident, which is being investigated by the Indiana State Police,
shocked firefighters.

The accident was in an area that is covered by the Madison Township
Fire Department. Crews arriving at the scene asked for help from the
Mooresville Fire Department and the White River Fire Department in
Johnson County.

All Brown Township firefighters were asked to report to their station.
A few went to the accident scene. Some walked away in tears, to be
comforted by others, and some just stood and stared. Brown Township
Fire Chief Dave Davis, pain and shock mirrored in his face, talked
quietly with officers from the Morgan County Sheriff's Department and
investigators from the Indiana State Police.

"It should not happen like this," one firefighter said.

While the passenger in the ambulance was able to get out, Sherfick and
Hoskins were trapped in their vehicles.

Fire crews asked that an ambulance from Madison Township be allowed to
transport Sherfick to Indianapolis where an autopsy would be conducted
on him and Hoskins.

As the ambulance left, fire crews lined the road and with tears in
their eyes, saluted their lost fellow firefighter. Fire crews held
their salute as the vehicle carrying him passed by.

Davis said he had all his crews stand down for at least the next 72
hours or until after the funeral. He said the department has brought
in grief counselors to help people deal with Sherfick's death.

In addition to crews from Madison Township, Mooresville, and Brooklyn
Fire Departments, Davis said fire departments from Plainfield, the
Lawrence, Avon, Franklin, Decatur, Wayne, and Danville, will be
covering the township.

Davis said, "Dave was the first one I hired in 1990. He worked hard
and rose to his position as captain."

Davis said he and the rest of the members of the department grew to
know not only Dave but his son too. "His 10 year old son is a part of
the department" he said.

"He was exemplary one of the guys I depended on a lot," said Brown
Township Trustee Al Hornaday. "It's horrible, no meaning to it. It
happens every day, just not this close to home."



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