By ROD ROWE
THE GOSHEN NEWS
—
More than 100 friends and family of 18-year-old David Adkins remembered him during a candlelight vigil through Goshen Friday evening.
Adkins died Thursday from injuries suffered in a traffic crash about 8:50 p.m. Wednesday night at Main Street and Plymouth Avenue. The walk from the skate park in Rogers Park through town to the accident scene at Plymouth Avenue began at about the same time.
David’s cousin, Sonia Ritter, and friend Jacqui Carmichael explained that they came up with the idea for the vigil Thursday night during a visit to the skate park.
“We were here,” Carmichael said. “This is his soul.”
Skateboarding was a part of his life, a relative said.
Cousin Alexis Ritter said Adkins enjoyed listening to music.
“He liked all of it,” she said. “He knew a whole lot.”
Friends explained that David’s nickname was Ginger, because of his bright red hair.
Bobbie Lorenzen said he was one of her best friends.
“We were like this,” she said, holding out crossed fingers. “We loved each other’s music. He liked rapping. David always lived at a fast pace. He lived life without regrets.”
Tanesha Ritter said David was her friend.
“He fixed my car one time,” she said. “He really gave of himself.”
And he continued to give and help others in his death, as he was an organ donor, explained his mother, Melanie.
“It’s the first thing he did when he got his ID at age 18,” she said. “He signed up to be an organ donor. “Today, two people who were critically ill benefitted from two of his organs.”
“He decided at age 16, when my brother died and he was a donor,” explained Henry Adkins, Melanie’s husband, who helped raise David.
Melanie commented on the fact that a witness said David died trying to save the people in the Jeep.
“A lot of people appreciated what he did, to help people in that car,” she said. “He is a hero in our eyes.”
She went on to explain that a memorial will also be held at New Paris Speedway tonight and Henry Adkins will come out of retirement and race in honor of David.
Over the years, Henry raced at New Paris and David grew up there, Melanie said.
Nik Rizor said he and David hung out every day and knew each other since the sixth grade.
Rizor rode a skateboard Friday from Rogers Park to Main and Plymouth.
“He was the coolest kid I’ve known,” Rizor said. “Yesterday was my birthday. It was my worst birthday.”
Gary Ritter, David’s biological father, explained David sought him out three years ago and they became close in the short time they knew each other.
“It was a great three years for me,” he said.
Chris Rader said David was “a real energetic, cheerful guy.”
Josie Cupp said she knew David since the eighth grade.
“We used to come down here and bring skateboards,” Cupp said. “He did everything. He was diverse.”
David Rader said David was his son’s friend.
“He taught me things,” Rader said of David. “Ginger was awesome. He was one of the most awesome kids.”
