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Monday, September 24, 2007

Fatal Accident On Rt. 50






At 3:22 AM The Wicomico County Sheriffs Department, (during a routine patrol) found a vehicle driving through a field with one headlight out and steam coming from the front of the vehicle. The Deputy continued to watch the vehicle come up through a ditch and back onto a paved road, (Old Ocean City Road) in the Willards area. The Deputy immediately pulled the vehicle over and put the driver through a Field Sobriety Test in which they determined this person, (David Scheibach, 42 YOA) was more than twice the legal limit to be driving and arrested him on the spot.

While they had asked him how he had destroyed his vehicle he responded he didn't know. It was pointed out the Deputy had watched Mr. Scheibach hanging out the drivers door window to see where he was driving because the damage was so severe he couldn't see out the windshield in front of him, (photos above).

While they were looking in the firlds for pieces of his vehicle the Maryland State Police called out over the radio they were looking for a vehicle involved less than a mile away for a Hit & Run. The Sheriffs Department hooked up with the State Police and it was quickly determined they had their man.

Sadly, Mr. Scheibach had been driving East bound on Rt. 50 at a very high rate of speed when he struck a Mazda Pickup Truck from behind, forcing the vehicle to flip several times and go off the road into a ditch near White Richardson Road. The female driver, Carolyn Houston, was a retired Police Officer with Salisbury University. Carolyn was killed immediately and was half way ejected from the vehicle. Carolyn also held two jobs, one with The Daily Times delivering Papers and the other, (where she was heading) was repairing ATM Machines.

Mr. Scheibach was racing back to Ocean City to meet with his brother where the two were staying at the Holiday Inn. Mr. Scheibach was arrested for a DUI and immediately following he was also arrested for vehicular manslaughter and is a resident of Virginia.

The Salisbury Maryland State Police are quite upset at the amount of Drunk Drivers recently but wanted it known that their barracks lead the State last year in DUI Arrests. However, while we were in there during a 1:30 Press Conference, they were processing yet another individual for a DUI right in the middle of the day! So far this year there have been 14 fatal accidents in the local area, 12 of which were alcohol and drug related accidents.

The Wicomico County Sheriffs Department and the State Police assures us that they will be stepping up their DUI Task Forces as there have simply been too many arrests and accidents to warrant such Check Points.

Ms. Houston was an Alumni of SU and worked as an Officer for 21 years there. She was 48 years young.

7 comments:

Fnl Frontier said...

Carolyn Houston was the kind of person we all wish we could be. She gave so much of herself to the university and its students, and she will be sorely missed. I hope her family knows as they struggle during this terrible time that Carolyn's life, though cut far too short, really did make a difference. May she rest in peace.

CapnRat said...

Joe,

Carolyn was my ex-sister in law and the family is very distraught right now, as one may expect.

I beg of you to NOT post any pics of the scene or Carolyn's truck if you should happen to have them. It would simply cause her mother to go over the edge. I have already spoken to her and she is torn with anger and sorrow as it is and the fact that she is preparing to bury her child is almost more than she can stand.

I hope that you'll understand my request and honor it as an honorable man should.

Respectfully,

Rat

joe albero said...

Consider it done. No photos. Joe

CapnRat said...

Thank you sincerely Joe...

Anonymous said...

David Scheibach, has indeed done a horrible thing, but please know that this tragic event does not define him as a man. He is one of the kindest men that I know. He is a caring father to the four most amazing children in the world. So in your time of mourning please know that there are MANY victims in the unthinkable tragedy. His wife that is now left to raise their children without him, and his family. This is one of those events that is uncomprhensible. My prayers are with both families at this horrific time.

Anonymous said...

what was in doing in salisbury at that time of night? maybe he's not as caring of a husband!

The Brewers said...

I am so sad about this- I just found out. I worked w/Carolyn at SSU in the early 90's and will always remember how much fun was. I loved her laugh- it was infectious, and she always had nicknames for me that were so silly. I wish I had known about this before so I could send condolences. This is a horrible tragedy. If anyone reads this and speaks to her family, please let them know that she will be missed by me very much.
Amy VandePutte, SSU '93