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Niemeyer, Jean (1946-2007)
Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2007 Mar 12 p. 1, 11
Birth date: 1946
text of obituary:
Four students killed in accident during baseball squad's spring break trip
By Robert Rhodes
Mennonite Weekly Review
BLUFFTON, Ohio — In the chaos of the moments after the predawn crash, members of the Bluffton University baseball team tried to do the impossible: Lift their toppled bus from the shattered bodies of their teammates.
"We had guys stuck under the bus — legs, arms — and we had guys trying to pick the bus up," shortstop Ryan Baightel, 21 told the Toledo Blade newspaper.
The crash occurred around 5:30 a.m. March 2, when a chartered bus carrying the Bluffton Beavers men's baseball team plunged 30 feet from an overpass onto Interstate 75 near downtown Atlanta. The team was on its way to play Eastern Mennonite University at Sarasota, Fla., before playing several more games in a spring break tournament at Gainesville, Fla.
Killed were bus driver Jerome Niemeyer, 65, of Columbus Grove and his wife, Jean, 61; and Bluffton players Tyler Williams, 19, of Lima; Cody Holp, 19, of Arcanum; David Betts, 20, of Bryan, a member of Zion Mennonite Church in Archbold; and Scott Harmon, 19, of Lima.
Nearly a dozen of the 35 people on the bus were seriously injured in the crash, including Bluffton coach James Grandey, 29, who underwent facial surgery at Atlanta's Piedmont Hospital.
The bus had left Bluffton the previous night. Authorities said the charter, operated by Executive Coach Luxury Travel in Ottawa, plunged from the overpass after the driver apparently mistook an exit ramp for a regular lane.
In the predawn darkness, the bus, traveling at 60 mph, collided with a three-foot-high concrete barrier and tore through a fence before hitting the interstate 30 feet below.
The bus came to rest on the driver's side, spilling diesel fuel and scattering luggage and sports equipment in the road.
Four Bluffton players reportedly were thrown from the bus while it was still on the overpass.
"Guys were actually off the bus but came back," injured Bluffton player A. J. Ramthun told the Blade of the scene after the crash. "With three inches of diesel fuel running off onto the highway that we had to crawl through and walk through to get to safety, and guys were still running back in trying to help. . . . They were trying to get back to them, trying to lift the bus the bus off of them."
As news of the crash spread and the injured were taken to several Atlanta medical center — including Grady Memorial Hospital, the city's trauma cent — members of the Atlanta Mennonite community began to respond.
At Grady hospital, chaplain Susan Gascho, a former pastor at Atlanta Mennonite Fellowship, worked intensively with the crash survivors and their families.
On March 4, some of the Bluffton players and families of the crash victims returned to Ohio, where a tearful welcome awaited them, aboard a free Air-Tran flight to Toledo's Express Airport. AirTran offered free plane tickets between Ohio and Atlanta for those affected by the tragedy.
Also on the plane March 4 were caskets carrying the bodies of Betts and Williams, as well as several members of Betts' family.
"We're coming home, and he's coming home," Betts' sister, Sarah, 23, told the Toledo newspaper.
Bluffton President James Harder also was on the flight. On March 2, Harder spoke during a nationally televised news conference in Founders Hall before leaving for Atlanta.
At the airport March 4, Harder said of the Bluffton players: "I think they came together as a team in ways we couldn't have imagined going down there. They became better individuals because of that."
In Atlanta, Bluffton campus pastor Stephen "Tig" Intagliata spent the night of March 4 in a hospital where he was keeping watch with families of some of the crash victims.
Intagliata said six who were on the bus were still hospitalized with varying degrees of injury.
"We've been back and forth to the different hospitals, just being there for the families," Intagliata said March 5. "They're being surrounded by offers of help, food, gifts, clothing."
Intagliata said he had been working with Atlanta churches and other groups to keep a steady source of counseling, assistance, lodging and other resources available to the families of the injured in the weeks to come.
A fund has been established at Bluffton's Citizens National Bank to help the baseball players involved in the crash and their families.
Contributions can be made by check payable to Bluffton University and mailed to Citizens National Bank, 102 S. Main Street, Bluffton, OH 45817. Donors should write "Baseball Team" on the check's memo line. Credit card contributions can be made by calling 419-358-3324.
Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2007 Mar 19 p. 1, 6
text of obituary:
By Mennonite Weekly Review staff
BLUFFTON, Ohio — The final funeral service for a victim of the March 2 bus crash that claimed the lives of five Bluffton University baseball players and two others was held March 16. The seven died after a chartered bus carrying the Bluffton team to Sarasota, Fla., ran off an overpass onto Interstate 75 near downtown Atlanta.
Funeral services for Bluffton pitcher Zachary Arend, 18, who died from his injuries March 9 in an Atlanta hospital, were held at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Paulding.
Funerals were also held:
■ March 9 for Bluffton second baseman David Betts, 20, at Bryan High School.
■ March 8 for Bluffton player Tyler Williams, 19, at Philippian Missionary Baptist Church in Lima.
■ March 8 for Bluffton player Cody Holp, 19, at Lewisburg United Methodist Church.
■ March 7 for Bluffton third baseman Scott Harmon, 19, at the Elida High School Fieldhouse.
■ March 7 for bus driver Jerry Niemeyer and his wife, Jean, at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Columbus Grove.
Some injured players who initially were hospitalized have gone home.
Bluffton player Kyle King, 20, of Dover, returned home with his parents after being releaed from Atlanta Medical Center on march 12. King, a center fielder, earlier underwent surgery on his right hand.
"Kyle is in good spirits and is feeling well," a statement from King's family read. "Thank you, Atlanta community, for all your prayers, support and visits. We felt your love. You embraced us as your own family."
Another Bluffton player, William Grandlinard of Berne, Ind., was released from Grady Memorial Hospital on March 11.
Bluffton student-coach Tim Berta of Ida, Mich, remained in critical condition March 12 at Grady Hospital, though a family member said he was making a "miraculous recovery" and might be sent home soon.
In news conferences and interviews, Bluffton President James M. Harder and other university officials repeatedly thanked people from around the world who are praying for the university community and offering assistance after the tragedy.
Harder praised Atlanta officials and offered thanks to Atlanta Mennonite who reached out immediately after the crash and continued to provide ongoing help. Bluffton is affiliated with Mennonite Church USA, which has two congregations with about 200 members in Atlanta.
"The members of the Mennonite congregations in Atlanta responded quickly and compassionately to help the families of those hospitalized," Bluffton campus pastor Stephen "Tig" Intagliata said. "The families [of the crash victims] have commented on how touched they are by the way that Christina faith is being lived out through acts of concrete love and service to them."
Bluffton University contributed to this report.
Note: Other articles about the bus crash or memorial services which do not give biographical information about the victims:
Mennonite Weekly Review 2007 Mar 12 p. 11: "President: a 'resilient community'" by Fred Steiner [memorial service scheduled for March 12 at 7:30 p.m. in Founders Hall at Bluffton Univerity]
Mennonite Weekly Review 2007 Mar 12 p. 11: "Mourning, support from near and far" by Robert Rhodes
Mennonite Weekly Review 2007 Mar 19 p. 1, 6: "Bluffton University honors lives lost in crash" by Heidi Martin
Mennonite Weekly Review 2007 Mar 19 p. 6: "Students share sorrow, support online" by Robert Stutzman