PORT ANGELES — The untimely death of her son, Benjamin Merscher, has shattered her family emotionally, said Mitzi Sanders, after watching the woman accused of his vehicular homicide in Clallam County Superior Court on Tuesday.
“He was big part of our lives,” she said, after the two-minute hearing that postponed the arraignment of Engre Louise Brown on a vehicular homicide charge until next Tuesday at 1 p.m.
Merscher died at the age of 25 on Oct. 7 when Brown, 28, veered into oncoming traffic and struck his car head-on near his hometown of Sequim, the State Patrol said.
He would have turned 26 on Dec. 1.
“His birthday was the hardest yet,” Sanders said.
The State Patrol believes Brown was intoxicated at the time of the wreck, which Sanders described as “tragic, senseless and preventable.”
Brown, who was seriously injured in the wreck, entered the courtroom in a wheelchair with a solemn expression on her face, and sat quietly during the hearing.
Court records show that, at the time of the wreck near Kitchen-Dick Road, Brown had a warrant out for her arrest, was driving with a revoked license and had repeatedly been cited for driving violations.
Merscher was pronounced dead at the scene.
Defense attorney John Black of Port Angeles asked for the arraignment postponement.
“I just hadn’t had an opportunity to go over the charging documents,” Black said.
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Ann Lundwall did not object to the motion.
Black asked Superior Court Judge S. Brooke Taylor Taylor for time to review Brown’s medical records.
“I just reviewed this, and I haven’t had a chance to go over this with my client,” Black said. “She is in need of physical therapy on her leg.”
After the wreck, Brown was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle with a broken leg and internal injuries. She was transferred to Island Health and Rehabilitation Center on Bainbridge Island and released into State Patrol custody on Dec. 2.
The State Patrol transported Brown to the Clallam County jail, where she has remained for the past week.
Brown made her initial appearance in Clallam County Superior Court on Dec. 3. Superior Court Judge Ken Williams set bail at $350,000.
She also appeared in Clallam County District Court last Wednesday on a warrant for a probation violation.
District Court Judge Rick Porter set that bail at $5,000.
Brown reappeared in District Court last Wednesday in a hearing that was continued to Thursday.
Family’s grief
Sanders, one of about 30 people who attended Brown’s hearing on Tuesday, described her son as bright, caring and hard-working — a young man who had a wide range of interests and loved his family dearly.
“We miss Ben terribly,” Sanders said. “His brother and sister miss him. He was a great son, and great big brother to them.”
Merscher’s siblings became good students, following in the footsteps of their older brother, she said.
Ashley Merscher, 23, graduated this year from Colorado College in Colorado Springs, Colo. She studied environmental science and political science.
Casey Merscher, 22, is a senior studding political science at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Ore. Since the Oregon’s campuses are separated by just two hours, Ben and Casey Merscher visited each other often, Sanders said.
Merscher’s father is Geoffrey Merscher.
“I would like to express my deepest gratitude for the tremendous support and love our community has extended to my family and me during this profoundly sad and tragic time,” Sanders said.
A model student
After graduating with honors from Sequim High School in 2001, Ben Merscher earned his associates degree from Peninsula College in 2003. He stayed at the Port Angeles community college for another year to study applied arts and Computer Information Technology.
Her son was particularly good in math and technology, Sanders said. He was quick on his feet and adept at crunching numbers.
“His friends say his mind was like a calculator,” Sanders said.
Even through he worked his own way through school, he found the time to play intramural sports at the University of Oregon in Eugene, Ore.
“He was a sports enthusiast, but he never claimed to be a star athlete,” Sanders said. “He loved to play.”
Her son kept up on sports statistics. Uncles would call from the Midwest to get the scoop on the playoff scenarios, Sanders said.
Ben Merscher loved all sports, particularly baseball, and became an avid Oregon Ducks’ fan. He graduated in June 2007 with honors and degrees in business administration and sports marketing.
After college, Ben Merscher traveled to Copenhagen, Denmark, on an international study abroad program. He had interviewed for an internship with the Seattle Mariners, but opted for Europe instead.
While he was there, Ben Merscher made lasting friendships and had the chance to visit 13 countries.
“He just loved it,” Sanders said. “He wanted to go back there.”
When he returned from Europe, Ben Merscher took a job at Sequim Costco Wholesale. He planed to pursue a master’s degree in international business and become a world traveler through his professional career.
“He was on his way to big things,” Sanders said.
Lasting legacy
“When Ben was killed, some people asked me about starting a scholarship in his name,” Sanders said.
Since Merscher did a lot of good deeds for people in his own life, he would have been proud to help others through a scholarship, Sanders said.
“We’re trying to secure a legacy and keep Ben’s name alive,” she said.
Donations for the Ben Merscher Memorial Scholarship can be made at Edward Jones Investments in Sequim, 512 E. Washington Street. Donations are also being accepted at the Oak Table Cafe, the Chestnut Cottage and at Washington Mutual branch in Sequim.
In Port Angeles, donations to the Ben Merscher Memorial Scholarship can be made at the Beauty & The Beach salon, 528 E. First Street.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
