Monday, October 17th, 2016
Rockford teen dies from injuries suffered in crash
By Jared Mauch
FORT WAYNE, Ind. - A Rockford teen died Saturday from injuries suffered in a single-vehicle accident on Wednesday.
Alexis Bickle, 16, died at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne, where she had been listed in critical condition.
Bickle was a junior at Parkway High School where she was a member of the Parkway Band and softball and basketball teams. She also was involved in FCCLA and Grand Lake Fall Softball League and played as a member of the traveling softball team, the Rockford Rippers. She was a member of St. Teresa Catholic Church in Rockford.
Parkway High School Principal Brian Fortkamp said Bickle was a caring student who wanted to help people. She did volunteer work in the elementary school during her study hall time, he pointed out.
"She was a great kid, one of a kind. Anytime you would talk to her she would be smiling, and you couldn't help smiling back because of her infectious smile," Fortkamp said.
Counselors and pastors were at the school Friday for Bickle's fellow band members and are again at the school today for the entire student body. School administrators are working with the groups in which Bickle was involved to plan possible memorials for her.
"She will be greatly missed," Fortkamp said.
On Oct. 12, a 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix driven by Bickle traveled off the right side of Greenville Road in southern Van Wert County, overcorrected and slid off the left side of the roadway before hitting a tree, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Bickle reportedly was taken by air to Lutheran Hospital.
Two passengers, Chandler Brown, 15, Rockford, and Braden Rice, 15, Celina, also reportedly were injured in the crash. Brown was transported by Mercer EMS to Van Wert County Hospital, Van Wert, and was treated for non-life-threatening injuries. He was wearing a seatbelt at the time, as was Bickle.
Rice reportedly was taken by Samaritan to Lutheran Hospital for serious but non-life-threatening injuries. A call to Lutheran Hospital for a condition update for Rice was not returned by press time. It's unknown if Rice was wearing a seatbelt.
See Bickle's obituary in today's edition.
