|
Accident claims life of 14-year-old
BY JAMES JACENICH • STAFF WRITER
 | | Around 10 p.m. Friday night a pickup traveling south on Potomac River Road (left) one mile north of Monterey hit fresh gravel on the side of the road. The driver steered to the left to regain control and crossed the highway, hitting two parked vehicles in front of the Frank Smith home (right). Logan Stuber, a passenger in the pickup, was killed in the accident (Recorder photos by James Jacenich) |
|
MONTEREY - The whir of the helicopter blades Friday night about 10:30 alerted Monterey residents that something serious had happened. The flashing blue and red lights near Highland High School indicating fire, rescue and sheriff's officepersonnel were preparing a makeshift landing zone confirmedit. The wife of the Rev. Mark Davis of Highland Baptist Church, a short distance from the school across Jackson River Road, saw the lights of the helicopter and alerted her husband. He went to the school grounds to see what he could do.
He learned that Robert Logan Stuber, 14, of Monterey, died in a vehicle accident on Potomac River Road one mile north of Monterey. Stuber was the passenger in a pickup driven by James Daniel Hass of Monterey, who was seriously injured and taken to U.Va. hospital in Charlottesville by helicopter. Hass is the boyfriend of Logan's mother, Tina Stuber.
It would be nearly 4 a.m. before Tina, who was working at The Highland Inn that night, was officially told of her son's death by state police.
The pickup ran off the road to the right, the driver overcorrected, and the car crossed the road striking a mailbox on the left side and two legally parked vehicles in front of Frank Smith's house.
Smith said it was around 9:45 p.m. and he was reading a novel when he heard a loud crash. "I heard tires squeal and bang and knew it was a wreck," he said. He went to the door and was met by a man asking him to call 911.
The man had been driving a vehicle ahead of the pickup. Stuber and Hass were helping him move furniture from Monterey to West Virginia, said state trooper and lead investigator Tim May. They were returning from taking a load to West Virginia when the accident occurred. May could not confirmthe identificationof the man at the door.
Smith said to his knowledge there had been seven accidents on his stretch of road in the last three or four years, none as serious as this one.
He also noted that VDOT crews put fresh gravel by the side of the road just the day before, though that doesn't appear to be a contributing factor to the accident, according to May.
Smith's 2003 Chevrolet S-10 pickup and 2000 Buick were damaged in the accident and might be considered totaled for insurance purposes, though insurance adjusters have not yet determined that, said Smith. The two vehicles were still resting side by side in front of Smith's house Monday, a huge dent clearly visible on the rear of the S-10. A jagged 4x4 post stuck out of the ground nearby where a mailbox once stood.
May was standing nearby with a state accident investigator who was marking the ground and roadway with orange spray paint and measuring distances between marks.
May said it appears neither passenger was wearing seatbelts at the time of the accident. The speed limit along that section of Potomac River Road is 55 mph. May could not say whether excessive speed contributed to the accident, but speed was a factor under consideration. He said the case was still under investigation and no charges had been filed against Hass, though he was to meet with commonwealth's attorney Melissa Dowd Wednesday to brief her on the status of the investigation.
Stuber was an eighth-grade student at Highland High School, a member of the school band, the track team and a soccer player.
His mother, Tina M. Stuber of Monterey, and his father, Robert R. Stuber of Hebron, Md., fivebrothers and two sisters, survive him.
Monday students and staff prayed, cried and remembered Logan. "We had various ministers, counselors and psychologists Monday," said HHS principal Randy Hooke. "Eighth-graders worked through activities of remembrance and created a wreath."
Kindergartners made cards and cookies for Logan's youngest brother, Michael Draven Duncan, who was their classmate, in hopes of helping him heal.
Tina Stuber came in for about an hour to talk with students, who shared poems and flowers with her. A poster board full of sentiments stood in the hallway.
"Logan had a pleasant personality," said Hooke. "We treated his passing with compassion and flexibility."
Tuesday night visitation was held at Obaugh Funeral Home in McDowell. The overflow crowd quietly and solemnly filed through to give their condolences to the family and lingered in and outside the funeral home, comforting one another.
Logan's coffin was closed, surrounded by flowers from family and friends. A picture of a smiling Logan stood nearby. Other photos showing various stages of his life - laughing, playing, with friends, with family - were on display at the funeral home.
Tina was overheard saying through her tears, "I can't hold him anymore."
Davis would later say that no one who feels any compassion for others could not help but feel compassion for a mother who has lost a child.
One photo of his class carried the caption, "You made it through eighth grade, Logan." Handwritten signatures and sentiments from classmates said, "We miss you, Logan," surrounded the photo.
Wednesday at 1:15 p.m. the Word of Faith church parking lot started to fillas students, friends, teachers and school staff assembled for the 2 p.m. funeral service.
More than 100 cars were lined up ready for the procession to Monterey cemetery.
More than 170 people filled the church.
Eighty-four seats at the front of the church were empty, awaiting family members.
Nearly half of the people attending stood along the walls and in the entrance hall.
The seven lights that illuminated the sanctuary were extinguished; the light of a bright spring day filtered through the ten stained glass windows, filling the room with a soft glow. A cool breeze blew through an open side door.
Near the front of the church was a black casket, accented with wildlife scenes. Thirty-two flower arrangements filled the front of the sanctuary. Violin music played in the background. A slide projected on a white screen above the coffin:"Robert Logan Stuber, June 3, 1993 - May 2, 2008."
The reverends Davis and Chris Scott walked to their seats behind the coffin.The family arrived, Tina at the head with her oldest son, William, at her side.
A rock song began, "It's not my time … This could be the end of me, everything I know."
But this was not the end, Davis would say. Stuber believed in and accepted Jesus as Savior and was assured eternal life in heaven, he said.
Teacher Ginny Neil read a poem written by Logan, who had been her student for the past three years. "His soul always came through so clearly, he was always happy," she said.
He had written a poem about a bubbling spring and the water traveling over rocks and through mud. He compared his family to the spring as it made its journey downstream. "We sit up and clean ourselves up and keep going just like a spring," he wrote.
Davis did not know Logan, but learned about him from his friends and family after his death. "He loved his family," said Davis. "He was a good kid and had a good nature about him. His fellow students told me if he saw you down, he would try to cheer you up. He seemed almost never to be down. He was talented and artistic.
"Grieving is something we should do," said Davis. "It is healthy. We should express our sorrow and our sadness. Grieve, but have hope. Those who are in Christ, though their bodies die, their spirits will go to heaven to be with the Lord."
Logan was active in LOGOS, a church youth program. In elementary school, he attended Weekday Religious Education, sponsored by local churches. He received Christ as his Savior, said Davis. "We don't have to grieve like those who have no hope," he said.
The music played again, this time the words said, "Day after day I'm more confused, though I look for the light through the pouring rain … Give me the beat, boys, and free my soul, I want to get lost in your rock and roll and drift away."
A rap version of a song originally performed by Sting said, "Every step I take … every single day … I'll be missing you."
HHS student Ashley Hiner told those assembled at the church, "We can't begin to express the pain we all feel today. Our minds know he is gone, but our hearts know he is here."
Scott, a minister affiliated with LOGOS, recalled several occasions, among many, of Stuber at LOGOS meetings.
One time youth were playing foos ball with a potato. The potato was turning to mush from being kicked too much. "He would kick it and miss it and fall down," said Scott. "He played with full force." Just like he lived.
"Logan lived," said Scott. "He tried, he prayed, he laughed and he cried. We should measure his life by the relationships he had with others. He had family and friends.
"Life is fragile and delicate, strong and beautiful, and gone in the twinkling of an eye," said Scott.
Scott wore a black shirt and pants, accented by a tie of yellow, red and black horizontal stripes. "Logan was like my tie," said Scott. "He was bright, flaming, electric, colorful."
He recalled that Logan always brought a snack to LOGOS, even though snacks were provided. He liked a slice of pizza and an energy drink, though he didn't need extra energy, said Scott.
Scott continued, "God loves us. God grants peace and comfort even when we don't understand."
May said the accident was still under investigation this week, and he has yet to talk with the driver of the vehicle and other witnesses. Hass was released from U.Va. hospital on Monday and May hopes to be able to speak with him early next week.
May sent evidence off for examination and is awaiting a report. He will brief Dowd, and she will decide what charges, if any, need to be filed.
Meanwhile, Logan Stuber was buried at Monterey cemetery Wednesday afternoon. His family and friends need time to say goodbye and to heal, though they will never forget the young man that touched so many lives, said Davis and Scott.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Highland County Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 268, Monterey, Va., the Highland Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 267, Monterey, Va., or to a memorial fund in memory of Logan set up at Blue Grass Valley Bank, Monterey, Va. 24465.
| 
)
)