Some South Hagerstown High School alumni this week are mourning classmate Charles Driggers as a scholar, athlete and professional.
"I just broke down and cried" upon hearing Driggers had died, said Fred Papa of Hagerstown, who graduated with Driggers in South High's Class of 1968. "It's still hard to talk about it.... Charlie was going to outlive us all.... It just goes to show you how fragile life is."
Driggers, 66, who had made his home in Grand Rapids, Mich., was riding a bicycle on the shoulder of a county road at 8:19 p.m. on Aug. 17 when a car struck his bicycle from behind, according to the Kent County Sheriff's Department in Michigan.
Driggers died Friday, nine days after the wreck, police and relatives said.
"It's an absolute tragedy," said Daniel Whaley, another South High classmate who now lives near Fayetteville, Pa.
The vehicle's driver fled the scene.
On Aug. 18, authorities arrested Benjamin VanderPloeg, 49, of Grand Rapids.
VanderPloeg has been charged with operating with a suspended or revoked license causing serious injury and failing to stop at the scene of an accident resulting in serious impairment, according to the sheriff's department.
As of Tuesday, he still was being held in the Kent County Correctional Facility on $200,000 bond.
Investigators are talking with prosecutors about enhancing the charges if an autopsy confirms Driggers died from injuries related to the crash, the sheriff's department said.
Citing a court affidavit, the Grand Rapids Press reported Friday that police believe VanderPloeg was driving a work vehicle from his employer when the crash occurred.
He was not supposed to be driving and had not had a valid license for years after many suspensions, the Press reported.
Back in Maryland, friends said Driggers was a member of South High's football, wrestling and track and field teams.
Steve Zimmerman, who now lives in Stanton, Va., served as president of the Class of 1968 for three of its four years in high school. Driggers was vice president for two of those years and treasurer for a third, he said.
"Charlie was just one of those All-American guys," Zimmerman said.
He said Driggers was "very personable" and displayed "a tremendous work ethic."
Another classmate, Kirk Schlotterbeck, now of Berlin, Md., said Driggers "was considered a leader and an outstanding person at the school."
Schlotterbeck said he, Driggers and other classmates stayed in touch at class reunions, which were held every five years.
"He always took an interest in what people were doing.... It's just a tragedy," Schlotterbeck said.
Classmate William Seltzer said that Driggers "never had a mean word — never."
Driggers received a bachelor's degree from Widener University, formerly Pennsylvania Military College, in 1972; served a four-year stint in the Army, where he was a first lieutenant; and earned a master's degree in human resources management from the University of Utah in 1976, according to his online résumé.
He was a retired information systems manager.
He had survived prostate cancer. After that experience, he completed several endurance races, including the Boston Marathon. He was training for the Ironman Triathlon when he was struck, family members said.
"People need to be aware of their surroundings when they're driving," said Shawn Driggers, Charles' son.
"He genuinely had a care and concern for others," he said of his father. "He loved his family, but he had a real desire to know as much about the world as possible.
Gregory A. Haugens
Some South Hagerstown High School alumni this week are mourning classmate Charles Driggers as a scholar, athlete and professional.
"I just broke down and cried" upon hearing Driggers had died, said Fred Papa of Hagerstown, who graduated with Driggers in South High's Class of 1968. "It's still hard to talk about it.... Charlie was going to outlive us all.... It just goes to show you how fragile life is."
Driggers, 66, who had made his home in Grand Rapids, Mich., was riding a bicycle on the shoulder of a county road at 8:19 p.m. on Aug. 17 when a car struck his bicycle from behind, according to the Kent County Sheriff's Department in Michigan.
Driggers died Friday, nine days after the wreck, police and relatives said.
"It's an absolute tragedy," said Daniel Whaley, another South High classmate who now lives near Fayetteville, Pa.
The vehicle's driver fled the scene.
On Aug. 18, authorities arrested Benjamin VanderPloeg, 49, of Grand Rapids.
VanderPloeg has been charged with operating with a suspended or revoked license causing serious injury and failing to stop at the scene of an accident resulting in serious impairment, according to the sheriff's department.
As of Tuesday, he still was being held in the Kent County Correctional Facility on $200,000 bond.
Investigators are talking with prosecutors about enhancing the charges if an autopsy confirms Driggers died from injuries related to the crash, the sheriff's department said.
Citing a court affidavit, the Grand Rapids Press reported Friday that police believe VanderPloeg was driving a work vehicle from his employer when the crash occurred.
He was not supposed to be driving and had not had a valid license for years after many suspensions, the Press reported.
Back in Maryland, friends said Driggers was a member of South High's football, wrestling and track and field teams.
Steve Zimmerman, who now lives in Stanton, Va., served as president of the Class of 1968 for three of its four years in high school. Driggers was vice president for two of those years and treasurer for a third, he said.
"Charlie was just one of those All-American guys," Zimmerman said.
He said Driggers was "very personable" and displayed "a tremendous work ethic."
Another classmate, Kirk Schlotterbeck, now of Berlin, Md., said Driggers "was considered a leader and an outstanding person at the school."
Schlotterbeck said he, Driggers and other classmates stayed in touch at class reunions, which were held every five years.
"He always took an interest in what people were doing.... It's just a tragedy," Schlotterbeck said.
Classmate William Seltzer said that Driggers "never had a mean word — never."
Driggers received a bachelor's degree from Widener University, formerly Pennsylvania Military College, in 1972; served a four-year stint in the Army, where he was a first lieutenant; and earned a master's degree in human resources management from the University of Utah in 1976, according to his online résumé.
He was a retired information systems manager.
He had survived prostate cancer. After that experience, he completed several endurance races, including the Boston Marathon. He was training for the Ironman Triathlon when he was struck, family members said.
"People need to be aware of their surroundings when they're driving," said Shawn Driggers, Charles' son.
"He genuinely had a care and concern for others," he said of his father. "He loved his family, but he had a real desire to know as much about the world as possible.
"Heaven has an Ironman," Shawn said.
Gregory A. Haugens
Gregory A. Haugens
Charlie passed August 26, 2016