Father of crash victim reflects on son’s life

GARY

Bryon Towns takes a picture with his baby daughter. Towns died last Wednesday when the SUV he and four others were traveling in was struck by a South Shore train in Gary as it went around the crossing gates. The baby’s mother, Sherise Parrish, was also killed. Howard Hawkins

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By Maya Wilkins Post-Tribune

When Howard Hawkins thinks of his son, Hawkins remembers how much he loved and wanted to provide for his daughter.

“He wanted to give her the best life possible,” Hawkins said. “I’ll remember my son in a good way. I’ll remember how happy he was and how much he cared for my granddaughter.”

Hawkins is the father of 21-year-old Bryon Towns, one of five people who died in a Gary crash last Wednesday. Their SUV collided with a South Shore Line train after it went around the crossing gates at the intersection of U.S. 20 and Utah Street on the north side of Gary’s Aetna neighborhood.

Towns was the youngest of Hawkins’ four children, he said.

“Bryon was one of the people you always wanted to be around,” Hawkins said. “He liked to make jokes out of everything. … Bryon was a jokester.”

Towns also had a strong work ethic, Hawkins said, adding that he would work about 12 hours a day before his daughter’s birth to do what he could to provide for her.

In the past year, Towns made sure to get his high school diploma and driver’s license, Hawkins said, which Towns had told his dad were his two short-term goals.

“It’s sad that his short-term goals became his long-term goals,” Hawkins said, “but I’m happy he could accomplish those before the end of his life.”

Towns was one of the five dead individuals who had been ejected from the severely damaged SUV. Others who died include 24-year-old De’Mario Craig, 20-year-old Maurice Parrish, 20-year-old Sherise Parrish and 20-year-old Latianna King.

All of the deceased resided in the 4000 block of E. 7th. Avenue in Gary, according to the Lake County Coroner’s Office.

Towns and Sherise Parrish were dating, Hawkins said, and they share a daughter.The crash happened at about 10:02 p.m. Wednesday, and Hawkins didn’t learn about his son’s death until about 5 a.m. the next morning, when one of his sons woke him up to tell him.

“I was like, ‘Boy, get out of my room,’ ” Hawkins said. “I thought he was just joking around or whatever.”

Once Hawkins learned about the crash, he called the Lake County Coroner’s Office to see if the news was true, and he had to help identify Towns’ body.

Since his son’s death, Hawkins has tried to keep busy, adding that he worked a full day at Merrillville Beauty College, his business, the day following the crash. He’s shared stories about Towns with family and friends to help grieve.

“Sometimes you just have to remember the good times,” Hawkins said. “Those good times make you laugh and remember the person more. …. You never try to remember the last argument you had or any of that. You only want to remember the good times.”

The Lake County Coroner’s Office collected items for Sherise Parrish’s mother, Deputy Chief Coroner Yvette Manfredy said in a Facebook message Monday. Sherise Parrish’s mother is primarily caring for the child.

People donated several boxes of baby wipes, diapers, formula, diaper rash cream, gift cards, baby food, toys, baby snacks and cereal, Manfredy said.

“Our communities, coworkers, friends, family, (and) agencies really showed up for this family,” Manfredy said. “We couldn’t be more proud of Lake County.”

Hawkins also started a GoFundMe to help pay for the funerals, he said Monday. As of about 3 p.m. Monday afternoon, the fundraiser had $2,650, according to the GoFundMe webpage.

Multiple Gary officials have expressed condolences to the families of the people who died in the crash, including Mayor Eddie Melton.

“Our thoughts remain with the families during this incredibly difficult time,” Melton said in a statement. “As we grieve this profound loss, I urge all residents to remain vigilant and exercise caution at every railroad crossing. … Every life is precious, and it is our collective responsibility to protect one another and prevent such tragedies from happening again.”

Gary Common Council President Lori Latham, D-1st, also released a statement following last Wednesday’s crash. The accident occurred in Latham’s district.

“Please remember everyone involved in your thoughts and prayers, including the families and loved ones of those whose lives were cut woefully short, the train engineers, conductors and staff and our first responders,” Latham said. “While investigators continue their work to determine the full circumstances surrounding the crash, I must take this opportunity to urge all residents to remain vigilant and cautious at railroad crossings. Safety must always be our shared priority.”

Hawkins said his family has not asked city officials for help with Towns’ funeral.

The South Shore Line and Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District said last week that no passengers or train crew members were injured. NICTD is working with the Gary Police Department on the investigation.

“Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by this tragic accident,” NICTD and the South Shore Line said in a statement. “We remind everyone to never attempt to cross railroad tracks when signals are activated, and to always expect a train on any track from any direction at any time.”

mwilkins@chicagotribune.com