Early last Thursday morning, Nicholas Orrange was tragically killed in a one car accident. Orrange was a very active and busy senior, involved in the Student Association as the Special Interest Service and Hobbies Coordinator and former president of the College Democrats.
Orrange lost his life after his '98 Pontiac crashed into a retaining wall located at the intersection of Sheridan Drive and Harlem Road, only half a mile from where his family resides.
Although his destination is unknown, he had been running errands that night, according to his mother, Cheryl Beamer.
'We know that he went to Mighty Taco that night,' Beamer said. 'He also had the habit of stopping for gas and cigarettes at a station down the road.'
Beamer added there is no indication of foul play as the investigation into the accident continues.
'Police have told us that he was definitely not using his cell phone and that initial results indicate no drugs or alcohol where involved,' Beamer said. 'If it was something extreme, it would have showed up immediately.'
Official toxicology results are expected within the next two weeks, according to officials at the Amherst Police Department, but no evidence of drugs or alcohol were present on Orrange's person or in the car.
'They really don't know what happened,' Beamer said. 'It could have been black ice, he could have been cut off, or he could have been reaching for something. There were no witnesses to the crash and it sounds like it could just be a tragedy.'
Beamer added that Nick was always one to wear his seatbelt, although reports indicate that he was not wearing it during the crash. Orrange also had a clean driving record, with no prior tickets or history of bad driving and had taken a driver education course as well.
'We may never know [what happened],' Beamer said. 'I talked with him not too long before [the accident] and he had made plans with me the next day; he talked to my father shortly after and was going to do a couple of things for him over the weekend.'
The Student Association and president Ernesto Alvarado have wasted no time in helping Orrange's family. Rubber bracelets, similar to the yellow LIVESTRONG bracelets have been ordered and will be on sale sometime next week. All proceeds will go toward a scholarship in Orrange's name at his alma mater, St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute.
Although times are tough in 350 Student Union after the loss of a close friend and colleague, Alvarado says Orrange would not want to see people moping around and being depressed.
'The wake helped out a lot – we got to meet his family and other friends, but it was rough,' Alvarado said. 'The weekend was really rough for us. There isn't a time when we don't think about Nick or that he isn't in the back of our minds.'
A memorial service is being put together in honor of Orrange and his name will appear on a brick outside the Student Union through the Name a Brick program.
SA Vice President Greg Robbins has temporally assumed Orrange's duties until an election can be held to fill the position, according to Alvarado.
'We're trying to move on, but not forget … we're focusing on the good times and the great things Nick did,' Alvarado said.
E-mail: news@ubspectrum.com
Photo: Breadchastick / Wikimedia Commons
