Meghan Mapes was aiming to convince her roommate and Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority sister Caroline Alfano to settle on the Okeechobee Music and Arts Festival longer on Sunday, March 5. Alfano wanted to go house to Boca Raton early for my child parents and introduce them to her friend Nicole Scherten, a German exchange student within the University of Florida F. She drove outside the festival in their own SUV, wearing a pastel tie-dye dress with carefree spirit.
Alfano and her passenger were struck from behind while waiting in a stop sign on State Road 710 near Southeast 128th Avenue in Okeechobee County, based on the Orlando Sentinel. Joseph David Lagrego, 22, of Englewood slammed into Alfano’s car and killed Scherten then and there. Alfano was transported to Lawnwood Regional Medical Center and died seven hours later
As a tribute to her friends, Mapes started a GoFundMe page on March 10 that’s already garnered $3,110 for memorial bricks to remain wear campus to commemorate their lives.
With a first goal of $2,000, she said the fundraiser surpassed her expectations. Any additional money go towards offsetting travel and funeral costs to the Alfano and Scherten families.
Mapes said she feels grateful she surely could take pictures with Alfano before she left, which she’ll cherish forever.
Before Alfano died, Mapes said, “she was feeling very comfortable in their skin,” foregoing her usual hair straightening and winged eyeliner routine and running around barefooted.
“She told me how ‘free’ she felt,” the UF senior recalled. “That’s how I’m going to remember her-feeling free.”
Palani Te, Scherten’s pal, met the international student through Facebook when she was trying to find a rental apartment to sublease for your summer. Each began Skyping and realized they had lots in keeping, including their passion for travel.
“Both ones [Alfano and Scherten] were fabulous at making friends feel like family, then when something similar to (this) happens, it’s pretty straightforward for individuals to give something,” Te said.
At 3 a.m. on Monday, Scherten’s boyfriend called Te from Germany to generate what is the news. Te made several calls to Florida law enforcement officials, who she said were uncooperative as a result of ongoing nature within the investigation.
“There’s frustration definitely in being unable to understand enough detailed information,” Te said.
Police eventually confirmed what is the news, but Te knew he couldn’t grieve or Scherten would scold him no matter where she was. It had become what she did while she was alive, chiding Te for staying up for hours doing homework.
“One of what she trained me is things happen, but life always moves on,” he was quoted saying.
A vigil for Alfano and Scherten will be held on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. on the Architecture Building’s courtyard.
This article has been updated to make sure that the place and use of Thursday’s vigil.
