Woman helps keep her dad's cause alive after tragic wreck
Wayne Malick died doing something he loved for a cause close to his heart, his daughter says.
"His heart was for children," said Stephanie Malick Robinson of her 52-year-old father, who died during an April 1 Relay for Life charity motorcycle ride in honor of 20-month-old cancer survivor Harlee Knoeferl, of Harlem.
Nine others, including Malick's wife, Kathy, were injured in a crash involving a car and 10 motorcycles on County Line Road outside Harlem.
Twenty days after the wreck, Robinson participated in the city's Relay for Life vigil Friday for which the April 1 ride raised money.
"For Dad, this is what his goal was," Robinson said, referring to the overnight vigil that remembers those killed by cancer, celebrates survivors and raises money for a cure.
Malick had a special bond with Harlee, including the same birthday, Robinson said.
"He was an outstanding man," said Brad Knoeferl, Harlee's father, who organized the ride with Wayne's help.
On the morning of April 1, the Malicks, Knoeferl and at least 40 other motorcyclists departed from Harlem United Methodist Church.
At about 11 a.m., a northbound motorcycle ridden by Donald "Lucky" Birk-inshaw, 71, of Harlem, and a southbound Buick driven by Meredith Young, 26, of Thomson, grazed each other, said Sgt. Brant Erickson, the team leader of the Gainesville-based Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team.
The contact caused Young to lose control, he said. The vehicle careened into nine oncoming motorcycles, Erickson said.
Malick, 52, died as a result of the second collision. Nine others were hurt.
Two people remain hospitalized: Kathy Malick, 48, and Carl Albritton, 54, of Bartow. As of Tuesday Kathy Malick was in good condition, and Albritton is a "no information" patient, Medical College of Georgia Hospital spokeswoman Danielle Wong Moores said.
The crash remains under investigation, said Trooper 1st Class Marion Bragg.
Several motorcyclists left the scene without giving statements to authorities, Bragg said.
Anyone who saw that initial impact can contact the Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team at (770) 538-2740.
The Rev. Roger Vest, of Harlem Methodist, said his church will hold a fundraiser June 3 for the injured cyclists whose medical bills he called "astronomical."