Family Remembers Young Victim of Hamlin Crash
Family and friends are remembering a 21-year-old Orleans County woman. Danielle Gowanlock of Holley was killed in a two car crash in Hamlin Sunday evening. Her fiancé, Jacob Stevens, 20, was driving the car at the time of the accident. YNN’s Kate McGowan spoke to loved ones, who say they are having a difficult time coping with her death.
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HOLLEY, N.Y. — “Danielle was beautiful,” said Tracy Frasier.
Loved ones remember Danielle Gowanlock for her kind heart.
“She never saw the bad in anybody, even when they were mean to her. She still saw the good side of them and she loved everybody,” said Frasier.
Frasier, who asked not to be shown on camera, said Gowanlock was engaged to her son, Jacob Stevens. She said they both lived together at her Holley home.
“He loved her more than anything,” she said.
Frasier said the two were heading to Hamlin Beach Sunday evening to meet friends when the crash occurred. She said her son told her that as he was driving, he took his eyes off the road for a split second to say something to Gowanlock. A car then smashed into his passenger side at the intersection of Lake Road West Fork and Church Road.
“He looked at her to say, ‘Wow, that’s really cool’, and when he looked at her, he saw the car coming that hit them."
Monroe County Sheriff’s Deputies said Stevens failed to stop at a stop sign.
His mom said he is blaming himself for his fiancée’s death.
“He feels responsible, but everybody, including the nurses, the doctors, the investigator, all told him that it's a tragic accident. And that he couldn’t have helped it," said Frasier.
“Nobody else can go through this. This is absolutely terrible.”
Gowanlock’s family and friends are now leaning on one another for support. They said her death has caused emotional scars that will take some time to heal.
“She was adorable, absolutely beautiful, and she was funny,” Frasier said tearfully.
Sheriff’s deputies found marijuana and drug paraphernalia in Stevens’ car. No charges have been filed and the investigation is ongoing.