On Monday afternoon, in the Saratoga County town of Ballston, 11-year-old Lane Rowe died while trying to stop the family minivan -- in which his young siblings were sitting -- from rolling into a busy street. Rowe is being lionized as a hero in media accounts across the state.
Family members told reporters that one of Rowe's siblings accidentally put the van in neutral, and it began to slide backward. The Albany Times-Union has a thorough -- and utterly heartbreaking -- account of what happened next:
Monday was supposed to be just like any other day. The mother spent the afternoon shopping with three of the kids, but Lane had his annual physical scheduled for 3:30 p.m. When she stopped home to pick him up, she ran inside, just for a minute. When she came out, the Dodge Caravan that she had parked at the top of her gravel driveway was 50 feet away, poking out of a steep embankment. Luca, 12, was in hysterics. Lark, 4, and Felix, 2, were in their back seats, unable to grasp what had just happened.
Lane had tried to get into the van when, with his younger brother and sisters inside, it started to creep downhill, straight toward a street humming with fast-moving cars. After grabbing the steering wheel through the driver's-side door in an attempt to pilot his siblings to safety, Lane scampered behind the hulking van, threw all his strength against two tons of automobile, but was pulled underneath. He was killed looking out for his family.
Lane Rowe's family and friends in the Catskills are mourning his death. His grandparents, Carolyn and Lynn Bradley, live in the Delaware County village of Margaretville. TV channel CBS 6 of Albany interviewed them today.
“He is going to be sorely missed,” said Carolyn Bradley, the victim’s grandmother.
Carolyn Bradley has fourteen grandchildren, but 11 year old Lane Rowe was extra special.
“He liked to make you laugh. He always had the funniest jokes and he would make some up. Grandma he would say - grandma, listen to this one,” said Bradley.
Lynn Bradley was fortunate enough to spend the summer with Lane at his home in Margaretville.
“What he did doesn't surprise me, that's Lane. Lane is a doer and a giver,” said Lynn Bradley, the victim’s grandfather.
State police announced on Monday that they were investigating the accident, and would be using the Collision Reconstruction Unit to determine the sequence of events.
A memorial service will be held on Thursday at 1pm, at the Burnt Hills Methodist Church, 816 Route 50.
A Lane Rowe Memorial Fund has also been set up at the Ballston Spa National Bank. Those wishing to donate can send checks to the bank at PO Box 70, Ballston Spa, NY, 12020.
