Eckel Family ‘Deeply Saddened’ Over Erroneous Comments

COURT HOUSE– Sherrie Hanagan, the mother of William B. Eckel who was killed in a head-on-collision on the Garden State Parkway on Dec 23 is “deeply saddened” over false comments and “lack of respect the community has for the victims and the families” involved in the Tuesday evening crash.
Hanagan reports Dana Sanfilippo’s condition is improving. However Sanfilippo is far from out of the woods, adding “Her recovery will be a long haul and will be very hard on the family and especially on Connor, but at least she is still with us, thank the dear Lord for that”.
Connor, the 6-year-old son of Eckel and Sanfilippo, has been staying with Hanagan.
Hanagan says it’s “heartbreaking” to hear a 6-year-old say, “It just doesn’t seem like Christmas because I can’t see my mommy, and I will never see my papa again”.
The article on the deadly crash quickly received a steady stream of comments within minutes of the initial report made by the Herald. While most of the comments offered sympathy and condolences to the family. Some of the comments were false and insensitive, including one comment that was originally approved by Herald Staff quoting a past article listing criminal charges against Eckel, that were latter removed by Herald Managing Editor Al Campbell.
On Dec 24, one commenter reported “I just got the news is it true Dana passed away now also.”
The Herald also received two phone calls also reporting Sanfilippo had died as a result of her injuries. Those reports were proven false by State Troopers at the Bass River Station and a spokeswomen at AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center.
According to Hanagan, another false comment was regarding the EMT’s that picked up the presents scattered at the accident scene, who claimed they re-wrapped and delivered them to the family.
“We were home all day and not one person stopped here with a gift or even a hug for Connor. He did have a Christmas because all the gifts I had bought him got the tags changed at the last minute to read ‘from Santa’. Certainly not because of the EMT’s!!! I am very thankful to them for the job they did getting the victims medical attention immediately, but people patting themselves on the back for something they did not do, and saying how grateful we were, as if they had talked to us and were relaying our gratitude is just unbelievable!” said Hanagan in an e-mail to the Herald.
Donations for Conner can be made at Sturdy Savings Bank where a trust account has been opened.
Contact Scheeler at: (609) 404-6515 or hscheeler@cmcherald.com