ASHTABULA, Ohio -
Charges were filed Tuesday in connection with an accident that killed a man, and injured three others as they watched a live nativity scene.
"My parents were high school sweethearts since the 7th grade and married for 37 years, you know, I mean what more can you say when two people can live together that long and be completely in love...he was a good man," said Angel Morales, daughter of the man who was killed.
She says her father, 57-year old Richard Seckman was a spiritual, family man. Two days before Christmas, he and a group of family and friends went to Trinity Presbyterian Church in Ashtabula to watch a live nativity scene in the church's front yard.
"They went to the nativity scene as their spiritual togetherness, they do it every year," she said.
Police say 29-year-old Jennifer Loeffel, of Ashtabula, was behind the wheel of a Chevy Malibu making a turn, and slammed into an oncoming pickup truck. The impact knocked a wheel off the pickup, forcing it to veer into the crowd, killing Seckman and injuring three others.
"Without that tire there was no brakes, there was no power steering, the first three were hit, my father was pinned, and the gentleman that's still up in Metro was thrown approximately 30 feet," said Morales.
Ashtabula police charged Loeffel with vehicular homicide and failure to yield. Police say she claims her car was not moving at the time of the crash.
"I'm hoping a slap on the wrist doesn't occur in this process," said Morales.
Morales says she and her mother were invited to watch the nativity, but both had to work that day.
"Christmas obviously is never gonna be the same from this point on, it actually left me wondering, you know...I have two kids and, is Santa supposed to come this year, and we were supposed to have our holiday dinner on Saturday the 26th," she said tearfully.
Jennifer Loeffel plead not guilty Tuesday in Ashtabula Municipal Court. She was released on a personal bond.
53-year old Eli Roath remains in critical condition at MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland.
"My parents were high school sweethearts since the 7th grade and married for 37 years, you know, I mean what more can you say when two people can live together that long and be completely in love...he was a good man," said Angel Morales, daughter of the man who was killed.
She says her father, 57-year old Richard Seckman was a spiritual, family man. Two days before Christmas, he and a group of family and friends went to Trinity Presbyterian Church in Ashtabula to watch a live nativity scene in the church's front yard.
"They went to the nativity scene as their spiritual togetherness, they do it every year," she said.
Police say 29-year-old Jennifer Loeffel, of Ashtabula, was behind the wheel of a Chevy Malibu making a turn, and slammed into an oncoming pickup truck. The impact knocked a wheel off the pickup, forcing it to veer into the crowd, killing Seckman and injuring three others.
"Without that tire there was no brakes, there was no power steering, the first three were hit, my father was pinned, and the gentleman that's still up in Metro was thrown approximately 30 feet," said Morales.
Ashtabula police charged Loeffel with vehicular homicide and failure to yield. Police say she claims her car was not moving at the time of the crash.
"I'm hoping a slap on the wrist doesn't occur in this process," said Morales.
Morales says she and her mother were invited to watch the nativity, but both had to work that day.
"Christmas obviously is never gonna be the same from this point on, it actually left me wondering, you know...I have two kids and, is Santa supposed to come this year, and we were supposed to have our holiday dinner on Saturday the 26th," she said tearfully.
Jennifer Loeffel plead not guilty Tuesday in Ashtabula Municipal Court. She was released on a personal bond.
53-year old Eli Roath remains in critical condition at MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland.
