A special thank you to Scott Beach for sponsoring this memorial.
*Observer-Dispatch (Utica, NY) - June 14, 2003*
Aaron Verminski, 20, of Oxford Court in Rome, was killed when the vehicle he was a passenger in overturned in a cornfield at 12:45 p.m, Sen. Inv. Jack Graham of the state police in Marcy said.
Regarded as a hard worker by all his coaches, Verminski qualified for several state championships as a runner at Rome Free Academy, then earned All-American honors in cross country at Mohawk Valley Community College in 2002. An illness sidelined Verminski for the 2002 season, but he was training to join the team at Herkimer County Community College.
Friday afternoon, Verminski was planning to sign up for another event in which he has excelled -- the Utica Boilermaker Road Race.
He was a champion in every sense of the word, said Sharon Verminski, Aaron's mother. I'm not saying that because I'm his mother, either. Every one who ever met him liked Aaron. He had no enemies.
Aaron Verminski never walked, his mother said. Even as a baby, Aaron hustled everywhere he went.
His love of running, combined with a solid work ethic, carried him to several state championships as a distance runner at Rome Free Academy.
He earned a silver medal at the 2000 Empire State games in the 5,000 meter run and placed in the Top Ten on other occasions in the 3,200-meter run and 3,000-meter steeplechase.
As an MVCC freshman, Verminski continued his success by earning All-American honors on the nation's fifth-ranked cross-country team.
He was the fastest runner on the team that year, said Gary Miller, his MVCC coach. He's was certainly one of the better runners I've had.
Just as impressive as his victories, his coaches and family members said, was his effort under challenging situations.
Eight minutes into the 2001 Boliermaker, Verminski still was running with world class runners in the Top 40. He fell back, but his mother said he still finished in the top 80.
At a state event in November 2000, Verminski was in seventh place until he lost a shoe. He continued running another two miles and finished the race.
His foot had gravel and wood chips in it -- it was a mess. said his mother. That just shows his dedication to his sport.
On Friday, Sharon Verminski said her son was on his way to pick up his pay check at the Wal-Mart Distribution Center with the driver of the vehicle, Sonny Brower, 20, of Madison St. in Rome, prior to the accident.
Before he left the house, Sharon Verminski said she and her son were joking around about the loud music he was playing.
Sen. Inv. Graham said Brower's vehicle was traveling east on River Road and attempted to pass another vehicle, which was not involved in the accident. When Brower saw an oncoming car traveling west, he swerved to get back into the eastbound lane and lost control of the vehicle, Graham said.
When he swerved back in, he just cut it too tight, Graham said.
Brower's vehicle struck a road sign and an earth embankment almost simultaneously and, according to witnesses, overturned six to eight times, Graham said.
Graham said the vehicle was found about 200 feet in a cornfield.
Verminski, who was partially ejected from the vehicle, was pronounced dead on the scene by Oneida County Coroner Kevin Barry, Graham said. Also at the scene was Oneida County Assistant District Attorney Scott McNamara.
Brower suffered a broken jaw and head injuries. He was taken to St. Elizabeth Medical Center by Kunkel Ambulance.
Verminski's family is planning a memorial service in his honor. They also hope to establish a track scholarship at Rome Free Academy in his name, Sharon Verminski said.
*Observer-Dispatch (Utica, NY) - June 14, 2003*
Aaron Verminski, 20, of Oxford Court in Rome, was killed when the vehicle he was a passenger in overturned in a cornfield at 12:45 p.m, Sen. Inv. Jack Graham of the state police in Marcy said.
Regarded as a hard worker by all his coaches, Verminski qualified for several state championships as a runner at Rome Free Academy, then earned All-American honors in cross country at Mohawk Valley Community College in 2002. An illness sidelined Verminski for the 2002 season, but he was training to join the team at Herkimer County Community College.
Friday afternoon, Verminski was planning to sign up for another event in which he has excelled -- the Utica Boilermaker Road Race.
He was a champion in every sense of the word, said Sharon Verminski, Aaron's mother. I'm not saying that because I'm his mother, either. Every one who ever met him liked Aaron. He had no enemies.
Aaron Verminski never walked, his mother said. Even as a baby, Aaron hustled everywhere he went.
His love of running, combined with a solid work ethic, carried him to several state championships as a distance runner at Rome Free Academy.
He earned a silver medal at the 2000 Empire State games in the 5,000 meter run and placed in the Top Ten on other occasions in the 3,200-meter run and 3,000-meter steeplechase.
As an MVCC freshman, Verminski continued his success by earning All-American honors on the nation's fifth-ranked cross-country team.
He was the fastest runner on the team that year, said Gary Miller, his MVCC coach. He's was certainly one of the better runners I've had.
Just as impressive as his victories, his coaches and family members said, was his effort under challenging situations.
Eight minutes into the 2001 Boliermaker, Verminski still was running with world class runners in the Top 40. He fell back, but his mother said he still finished in the top 80.
At a state event in November 2000, Verminski was in seventh place until he lost a shoe. He continued running another two miles and finished the race.
His foot had gravel and wood chips in it -- it was a mess. said his mother. That just shows his dedication to his sport.
On Friday, Sharon Verminski said her son was on his way to pick up his pay check at the Wal-Mart Distribution Center with the driver of the vehicle, Sonny Brower, 20, of Madison St. in Rome, prior to the accident.
Before he left the house, Sharon Verminski said she and her son were joking around about the loud music he was playing.
Sen. Inv. Graham said Brower's vehicle was traveling east on River Road and attempted to pass another vehicle, which was not involved in the accident. When Brower saw an oncoming car traveling west, he swerved to get back into the eastbound lane and lost control of the vehicle, Graham said.
When he swerved back in, he just cut it too tight, Graham said.
Brower's vehicle struck a road sign and an earth embankment almost simultaneously and, according to witnesses, overturned six to eight times, Graham said.
Graham said the vehicle was found about 200 feet in a cornfield.
Verminski, who was partially ejected from the vehicle, was pronounced dead on the scene by Oneida County Coroner Kevin Barry, Graham said. Also at the scene was Oneida County Assistant District Attorney Scott McNamara.
Brower suffered a broken jaw and head injuries. He was taken to St. Elizabeth Medical Center by Kunkel Ambulance.
Verminski's family is planning a memorial service in his honor. They also hope to establish a track scholarship at Rome Free Academy in his name, Sharon Verminski said.
A special thank you to Scott Beach for sponsoring this memorial.
*Observer-Dispatch (Utica, NY) - June 14, 2003*
Aaron Verminski, 20, of Oxford Court in Rome, was killed when the vehicle he was a passenger in overturned in a cornfield at 12:45 p.m, Sen. Inv. Jack Graham of the state police in Marcy said.
Regarded as a hard worker by all his coaches, Verminski qualified for several state championships as a runner at Rome Free Academy, then earned All-American honors in cross country at Mohawk Valley Community College in 2002. An illness sidelined Verminski for the 2002 season, but he was training to join the team at Herkimer County Community College.
Friday afternoon, Verminski was planning to sign up for another event in which he has excelled -- the Utica Boilermaker Road Race.
He was a champion in every sense of the word, said Sharon Verminski, Aaron's mother. I'm not saying that because I'm his mother, either. Every one who ever met him liked Aaron. He had no enemies.
Aaron Verminski never walked, his mother said. Even as a baby, Aaron hustled everywhere he went.
His love of running, combined with a solid work ethic, carried him to several state championships as a distance runner at Rome Free Academy.
He earned a silver medal at the 2000 Empire State games in the 5,000 meter run and placed in the Top Ten on other occasions in the 3,200-meter run and 3,000-meter steeplechase.
As an MVCC freshman, Verminski continued his success by earning All-American honors on the nation's fifth-ranked cross-country team.
He was the fastest runner on the team that year, said Gary Miller, his MVCC coach. He's was certainly one of the better runners I've had.
Just as impressive as his victories, his coaches and family members said, was his effort under challenging situations.
Eight minutes into the 2001 Boliermaker, Verminski still was running with world class runners in the Top 40. He fell back, but his mother said he still finished in the top 80.
At a state event in November 2000, Verminski was in seventh place until he lost a shoe. He continued running another two miles and finished the race.
His foot had gravel and wood chips in it -- it was a mess. said his mother. That just shows his dedication to his sport.
On Friday, Sharon Verminski said her son was on his way to pick up his pay check at the Wal-Mart Distribution Center with the driver of the vehicle, Sonny Brower, 20, of Madison St. in Rome, prior to the accident.
Before he left the house, Sharon Verminski said she and her son were joking around about the loud music he was playing.
Sen. Inv. Graham said Brower's vehicle was traveling east on River Road and attempted to pass another vehicle, which was not involved in the accident. When Brower saw an oncoming car traveling west, he swerved to get back into the eastbound lane and lost control of the vehicle, Graham said.
When he swerved back in, he just cut it too tight, Graham said.
Brower's vehicle struck a road sign and an earth embankment almost simultaneously and, according to witnesses, overturned six to eight times, Graham said.
Graham said the vehicle was found about 200 feet in a cornfield.
Verminski, who was partially ejected from the vehicle, was pronounced dead on the scene by Oneida County Coroner Kevin Barry, Graham said. Also at the scene was Oneida County Assistant District Attorney Scott McNamara.
Brower suffered a broken jaw and head injuries. He was taken to St. Elizabeth Medical Center by Kunkel Ambulance.
Verminski's family is planning a memorial service in his honor. They also hope to establish a track scholarship at Rome Free Academy in his name, Sharon Verminski said.
*Observer-Dispatch (Utica, NY) - June 14, 2003*
Aaron Verminski, 20, of Oxford Court in Rome, was killed when the vehicle he was a passenger in overturned in a cornfield at 12:45 p.m, Sen. Inv. Jack Graham of the state police in Marcy said.
Regarded as a hard worker by all his coaches, Verminski qualified for several state championships as a runner at Rome Free Academy, then earned All-American honors in cross country at Mohawk Valley Community College in 2002. An illness sidelined Verminski for the 2002 season, but he was training to join the team at Herkimer County Community College.
Friday afternoon, Verminski was planning to sign up for another event in which he has excelled -- the Utica Boilermaker Road Race.
He was a champion in every sense of the word, said Sharon Verminski, Aaron's mother. I'm not saying that because I'm his mother, either. Every one who ever met him liked Aaron. He had no enemies.
Aaron Verminski never walked, his mother said. Even as a baby, Aaron hustled everywhere he went.
His love of running, combined with a solid work ethic, carried him to several state championships as a distance runner at Rome Free Academy.
He earned a silver medal at the 2000 Empire State games in the 5,000 meter run and placed in the Top Ten on other occasions in the 3,200-meter run and 3,000-meter steeplechase.
As an MVCC freshman, Verminski continued his success by earning All-American honors on the nation's fifth-ranked cross-country team.
He was the fastest runner on the team that year, said Gary Miller, his MVCC coach. He's was certainly one of the better runners I've had.
Just as impressive as his victories, his coaches and family members said, was his effort under challenging situations.
Eight minutes into the 2001 Boliermaker, Verminski still was running with world class runners in the Top 40. He fell back, but his mother said he still finished in the top 80.
At a state event in November 2000, Verminski was in seventh place until he lost a shoe. He continued running another two miles and finished the race.
His foot had gravel and wood chips in it -- it was a mess. said his mother. That just shows his dedication to his sport.
On Friday, Sharon Verminski said her son was on his way to pick up his pay check at the Wal-Mart Distribution Center with the driver of the vehicle, Sonny Brower, 20, of Madison St. in Rome, prior to the accident.
Before he left the house, Sharon Verminski said she and her son were joking around about the loud music he was playing.
Sen. Inv. Graham said Brower's vehicle was traveling east on River Road and attempted to pass another vehicle, which was not involved in the accident. When Brower saw an oncoming car traveling west, he swerved to get back into the eastbound lane and lost control of the vehicle, Graham said.
When he swerved back in, he just cut it too tight, Graham said.
Brower's vehicle struck a road sign and an earth embankment almost simultaneously and, according to witnesses, overturned six to eight times, Graham said.
Graham said the vehicle was found about 200 feet in a cornfield.
Verminski, who was partially ejected from the vehicle, was pronounced dead on the scene by Oneida County Coroner Kevin Barry, Graham said. Also at the scene was Oneida County Assistant District Attorney Scott McNamara.
Brower suffered a broken jaw and head injuries. He was taken to St. Elizabeth Medical Center by Kunkel Ambulance.
Verminski's family is planning a memorial service in his honor. They also hope to establish a track scholarship at Rome Free Academy in his name, Sharon Verminski said.
