House Remains A Haunting Reminder of Deadly Accident
By: Jordan Vandenberge
Updated: February 4, 2013
Homer and Lela Meriwether went to bed that night in late December.
They never woke up.
Police say Thomas Hodgson of Newburgh missed the curve, went airborne and eventually crashed into the Meriwether's bedroom in the early morning hours of December 30th.
Even today, more than a month later, neighbors say it's like it happened yesterday.
***
She has four ceramic angels in her front yard. But Mary Ellen Coker will always remember the two angels across the street, Homer and Lela Meriwether.
"Where you saw one, you saw the other," said Coker. "They were like twins. They were so happy. Then all the sudden, they're not there."
Hundreds of cars make the turn on Riverside Drive, east of Highway 41. But in the early morning hours of December 30th, one car didn't.
The crash killed the Meriwethers in their sleep. The driver, Thomas Hodgson, died too.
A month later, the Meriwether's home is where the haunting is.
"It reminds me of death and how sudden death happens," said Kendra Goines, a neighbor. "There's no promise of tomorrow. The hurt remains after you've lost someone."
"[They were] friendly, kind. I don't have that across the street anymore," said Coker. "All I have is a house that's wrecked."
The Meriwethers always took care of their house. Now the insurance company will determine what to do with what remains of it.
However, no plywood or fresh paint can bring back the friendly waves or recipe exchanges between neighbors.
"We're looking at the house every day and I keep looking for them," said Coker. "I just want to see them. Surely they are ok. But that's not true."
It's difficult just to look out her front door. But maybe that way, Coker will never forget.
"There's still a lot of destruction over there but you can't help but think about Homer and Lela," said Coker. "Lela's house was neat as a pin. She'd be really upset to see her house like this."
***
Vanderburgh County Coroner Annie Groves tells Eyewitness News toxicology results aren't back yet on Thomas Hodgson. It's still not clear what will happen to the house while insurance companies sort things out.
They never woke up.
Police say Thomas Hodgson of Newburgh missed the curve, went airborne and eventually crashed into the Meriwether's bedroom in the early morning hours of December 30th.
Even today, more than a month later, neighbors say it's like it happened yesterday.
***
She has four ceramic angels in her front yard. But Mary Ellen Coker will always remember the two angels across the street, Homer and Lela Meriwether.
"Where you saw one, you saw the other," said Coker. "They were like twins. They were so happy. Then all the sudden, they're not there."
Hundreds of cars make the turn on Riverside Drive, east of Highway 41. But in the early morning hours of December 30th, one car didn't.
The crash killed the Meriwethers in their sleep. The driver, Thomas Hodgson, died too.
A month later, the Meriwether's home is where the haunting is.
"It reminds me of death and how sudden death happens," said Kendra Goines, a neighbor. "There's no promise of tomorrow. The hurt remains after you've lost someone."
"[They were] friendly, kind. I don't have that across the street anymore," said Coker. "All I have is a house that's wrecked."
The Meriwethers always took care of their house. Now the insurance company will determine what to do with what remains of it.
However, no plywood or fresh paint can bring back the friendly waves or recipe exchanges between neighbors.
"We're looking at the house every day and I keep looking for them," said Coker. "I just want to see them. Surely they are ok. But that's not true."
It's difficult just to look out her front door. But maybe that way, Coker will never forget.
"There's still a lot of destruction over there but you can't help but think about Homer and Lela," said Coker. "Lela's house was neat as a pin. She'd be really upset to see her house like this."
***
Vanderburgh County Coroner Annie Groves tells Eyewitness News toxicology results aren't back yet on Thomas Hodgson. It's still not clear what will happen to the house while insurance companies sort things out.
