A GoFundMe has been set up for the family of a 2024 RHS graduate, who's life was cut short unexpectedly over the weekend after a vehicle pursuit with police in Kosciusko County. Adam C. McDaniels was pronounced dead at the scene where the incident happened on Indiana 25, near County Road 775 North.
McDaniels was just 17 years old when the tragic accident occurred, leaving his family scrambling to ensure he gets the proper funeral and burial. Originally from Florida, McDaniels stepsister, Anna Ames, said it wasn't until he moved to Rochester three years ago that he came out his shell from being the shy little boy he used to be. After his family struggled to financially get on their feet after moving to the community, McDaniels took up a job alongside his parents at Burger King in Rochester three years ago as a way to be more independent. Taking the leap to get his diploma a year early, McDaniels graduated with the class of 2024 this spring.
Between McDaniels's soon close-knit group of friends from Rochester High School, as well his work family he established from the past few years at Burger King, Ames said McDaniels will be greatly missed by all that loved him.
”When he came up here, he started making friends in school and getting comfortable and suddenly everybody around here just loved Adam,” Ames said. ”He was always such a light. He could make friends with anybody and any situation. Kids that got bullied, he'd stick up for them. He was just a beautiful person.”
The last time Ames talked to her brother was last week, after Ames four-month-old baby experienced a medical emergency. Ames said throughout the week, McDaniels would check in with Ames to get updates on the baby's condition. Ames said caring about others, and checking on loved ones was always a high priority on McDaniels' agenda.
Now with his unexpected death, Ames said the family is not only at loss for words but also in an even bigger financial struggle than what they were in prior to his passing.
A GoFundMe was started Sunday to help with McDaniels funeral, a cost his family is unfortunately unable to cover.
Ames said she is thankful for the community coming together during this time to show love for her step-brother, and her family suffering from the tragedy. Ames also started a meal train at https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/1v8g55 to help her parents as they trudge through the day-to-day preparing for McDaniels burial.
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