trestle park

Friends and family of Derek Sheldon gathered this afternoon in Trestle Park in Byron to remember the young man who died a year ago tomorrow in an accident at West Bergen Road and Selden Road, Le Roy.

Friends created a memorial to Sheldon near the pond in the park. It consists of the memorial post that was originally erected at the accident site, a tree and a log bench inscribed with Sheldon's name, birthdate and date of his death, and a quote from Derek, "People come and go I guess that's life no matter how hard times get put your head up and take the punches because someone's always looking down on you."

The bench was designed and built by Jake Maurer and Josh Lathan. Devon Jessop, JBR Grafx, sandblasted the words onto the back of the bench. Dan Sheldon provided the marker on the original tribute pole.

After people visited for about an hour at the site, Derek's mother, Karen Lashbrook, said a word about how it's hard to believe Derek's already been gone a year.

Ashley M. Stillwell, who was riding on the back of Derek's motorcycle and was seriously injured in the crash a year ago, was at the gathering today and is in much better health.

Previously:

• Young man from Bergen killed in motorcycle accident in Le Roy, passenger seriously injured
• Derek Sheldon remembered with tears, laughter and duck calls

The riders on three or four ATVs are arguing with other park patrons at Trestle Park in Byron and otherwise giving them a hard time. There is reportedly an assault going on, too. "A group of Hispanics" approached and joined in the goings on. Law enforcement is on scene. A responder there says "Sounds like it's starting to heat up again."

UPDATE 8:53 p.m.: Some responders indicate having difficulty finding the location. It's "by the fishing park, down the trail, over the steel bridge, 1/4 mile to the pond where there's a mowed field and picnic area." Subsequently, responders told dispatchers things had "settled down some" and that one suspect is still on scene and another one left the area.