Over summer break, the Wittenberg community was struck with shocking news that there had been several fatal car accidents involving student-athletes.
On June 27, the first accident occurred on interstate 75 near Anna, Ohio. Four members of the Wittenberg football team were coming home from a weekend work assignment when their vehicle drifted into the median and rolled several times.
Of the four football teammates that were involved in the accident, Miles Laboy, ‘19, passed away due to his injuries. Rashon Edwards, ‘19; Dorian Hunter, ‘18; and Aikili Mosley, ‘17, all made complete recoveries and have joined the Wittenberg community for another semester.
“I realize that anything could happen at any given moment, so you should live life to the fullest.” said Hunter, ‘19.
Junior captain Chandler Ferko says that this season means a little bit more to the team now.
“This season is a way to pay tribute to Laboy,” Ferko said.
“Everyone on the team is going out on Saturdays and playing for him.”
Football team members plan on remembering Laboy by wearing the number eight on the back of their helmets for the 2016 season and held a moment of silence at the team’s home opener this past Saturday.
“Seeing Laboy honored at the game is something that means a lot for everyone that knew him” said Hunter. “He was deserving of it because of the man he was and was striving to be.”
The second accident occurred on July 14, when incoming freshman Kevin Karn, ‘20, was killed in a single-vehicle accident after driving his car off of the road in Amanda Township, Ohio, south of his hometown, Canal Winchester.
Karn was a 2016 graduate of Canal Winchester High School, and was scheduled to begin a career in soccer at Wittenberg University. Unfortunately, the Wittenberg community never got to opportunity to meet Karn and watch him play the sport he loved.
“Once a Tiger, always a Tiger is something we talk about here at Wittenberg, and is no more true than in the case of Kevin,” said Wittenberg Athletic Director Gary Williams. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the Karn family as well as our own Tiger family who Kevin already made an impact with.”
Note from the Editor-in-Chief on behalf of the Wittenberg Torch Staff:
Wittenberg community: I would like to express my deepest condolences to the family and friends of both Miles Laboy and Kevin Karn. Miles was a beloved member of our Wittenberg family, and he will be truly missed.
But this note is to especially pay tribute to Kevin. We were not fortunate enough to have him on our campus, so his story in the Torch’s coverage of the car accidents was very brief, and for that I am sorry. This was due to the fact that people on campus did not have the pleasure to get to know him and speak on his memory. In no way did the author, our editorial staff nor our Torch staff as a whole intend any dishonor to his memory.
We are very sorry to have lost a member of the Wittenberg community before we had the opportunity to learn, live and grow with him.
But Kevin will live in our hearts every time we go to class, walk around campus or go to cheer on a soccer game.
If anyone went to high school with him, or knew him from soccer tryouts, please contact the Torch so we can properly honor this Tiger.
– Jessica Hamm
