[Bristol-Birds] Tom Horsch's mother killed in bus crash

From: "Wallace Coffey" <jwcoffey@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: "Bristol-Birds" <bristol-birds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Wed, 24 Feb 2010 05:14:07 +0000
 The Florida Highway Patrol has identified Joan Horsch, 78, of Abingdon, Va., 
as one of two people who died Monday when a tour bus taking them on a 
sightseeing trip crashed in central Florida at  Lake Placid, Fla., according to 
the Associated Press and Florida newspaper reports.

She is the mother of birder Tom Horsch of Damascus, Va who is a subscriber of 
Bristol Birds Net and a former member of the Bristol Bird Club.

Tom's father, Dr. Robert Horsch a retired physician of Abingdon, was among the 
32 passengers on board.  He is in a hospital with what was reported as a pelvic 
injury. All but one of the passengers were believed injured.

We extend our deepest and most sincere sympathy to Tom, his father and Tom's 
family.

A 79-year-old, Cohasset, Mass., man was also killed.

Many of you will remember Tom and his wife, Jill, for having hosted and catered 
the BBC weekend at Rikemo Lodge when BBC birders canoed the Clinch River.

Tom was, for several years, a participant of the Glade Springs Christmas Bird 
Count, providing overnight lodging for his CBC party at his rental.
cabins on the Creeper Trail.  He is owner of the Blue Dog bicycle rental and 
Adventure Damascus bicycle rentals.

His parents have been prominent citizens of Abingdon and his mother well known 
for her generous volunteer activities.

Many of the passengers on the charter bus were from Boston or New York. All 
ranged in age from 66 to 87 and had traveled to Florida to participate in an 
educational program affiliated with South Florida Community College in Avon 
Park. 

The bus was hit by a car, ran off the road and rolled over at least twice, 
ejecting several passengers. The car driver failed to yield while turning onto 
a rural highway and hit the side of the bus, according to a Florida Highway 
Patrol crash report. She was not hurt.  No charges had been filed Tuesday 
afternoon. 

Only one person on the bus was not hurt, though some of the injuries were 
minor. The program they were involved in, called "Exploritas," is based in 
Boston. It was previously known as Elderhostel, a nonprofit, lifelong learning 
and educational travel group. 

The group had just visited murals in Lake Placid, about 30 miles northwest of 
Lake Okeechobee, and was headed back to a nearby hotel when the accident 
occurred.     LâÁ!Ò4DË!$Í5 ÐÀEú+4DÍý%?m§ÿðÃ(¢        
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[Bristol-Birds] Tom Horsch's mother killed in bus crash

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