Originally posted by: Tyrant987
I've been informed through close friends of his that Richard Smith, AKA acemcmac on these forums, was struck and killed by a drunk driver at 2:30 AM Saturday morning while crossing the street with a friend of his.
I never actually met him in person, but just from the many times I talked with him via Ventrilo, I knew he was a great guy.
I also knew he was a very active member (a "lifer") on these forums and thought that you all would like to know.
Contributions in his memory may be made to the Boy Scouts of America, Chester County Council BSA, 504 S. Concord Road, West Chester, PA 19382
The other victim of this tragic event, Aaron C. Stidd, is still in critical condition. Please keep Aaron, his family, and friends in your thoughts and prayers as well. Thank you.
News Releases
--- 10/28/06 ---
Police: Driver in fatal crash was drunk
--- 10/29/06 ---
Student charged in fatal collision
--- 10/30/06 ---
Pedestrian still in critical condition
--- 10/31/06 ---
Alleged Drunk Driver 'Flying'
Druken Driver Kills WCU Alum
Fatal DUI Victim ID'd
New Details in Deadly Weekend DUI
--- 11/1/06 ---
Hearing Delayed for Man Accused in Pedestrian Fatality
Rick's last thread
I saw the sunrise this morning
Our condolences to his family and friends.I live in an "encyclopedia home." It's very tall and thin. 4 stories if you include the basement (basement exits to grade, front door is in the front of the first floor and also at grade if you were wondering).
This means I have a lounge behind my master bedroom with a view of the whole valley. That's where I put my lazyboy. The whole sky was orange and pink. It was pretty cool.
I should have poured a scotch thinking back to it....
I just wanted to post that.
AnandTech Moderator
Quotes from his good friends
Originally posted by: Rogueverve
this is very real in case anyone has any doubts.
Rick was a close friend of mine. Tyrant knows him as myself and another close friend of Ricks play css with him. Rick would always come on ventrilo and talk with people and such just being his general friendly self. This has been a rough day for everyone and I thank you for your condolences.
Pic of ace
Better pic of ace
This picture is much more recent (was taken this past august) and is the best photo we have of him.
There will be more information sometime in the next few days as his family begins to sort everything out.
Again, thanks for everyone's comments and support. It really means a lot to myself and his family to see how much the atot community will miss him.
figured it was about time i added some memories of my own.
Rick was the first person to share a beer with me on a college campus, First person to share a cigar with me, First person to get me a handle of booze, First person to get me to a LAN, First person to comment on my appearance when I started to lose weight (and the only to say something every time I saw him). He was so giving to those whom he cared about. I cannot remember once where he wasn't the first to offer to cover the check regardless of whether or not he actually had the money. His friends always came first for him. I cannot begin to describe how awesome that is. I'm reminded of a line from Jackson Browne - The Late show
"Maybe people only ask you how you're doing
'cause that's easier than letting on how little they could care
But when you know that you've got a real friend somewhere
Suddenly all the others are so much easier to bear."
Rick was that real friend. He always made time for his friends, was the one searching for things to do, wanted to be together and having fun, would listen and offer advice. Life called and he more so than anyone I know had the gumption to answer it screaming demanding more. All the while still taking the time to reflect, appreciate it (the sunrise thread enough proof?) and listen.
I will miss him so much. I can only hope that I was the same for him as he was for me, but sadly I would probably guess I was not.
Originally posted by: DNvCross
I don't post here much myself, but I'm a close friend of ace's from highschool.
I recently spoke to ace's parents, and they informed me that at least he didn't suffer. he died instantly. The other pedetrian that the same driver hit did not, and is still in critical condition. I understand his outlook is grim. Please keep him and his family in your thoughts as well.
A message from Richard's family's post, posted in this thread 11/02/2006Originally posted by: TheLonelyPhoenix
Rick was killed while visiting another friend from our group who goes to PSU. More of us were invited to be there, but we lived farther away and none of us were up to driving that far. In the past day I've wondered about a thousand times if my being there could have prevented something. I just don't know.
What that article doen't tell you is that the friend he was visiting was standing 2 feet away from the accident as it happened, and one second later it would have been him killed. At the moment he is completely traumatized, a few of us have grouped up here at my apartment in Virginia to make our way back today to talk to him. He was the one who called me yesterday morning to tell me about Rick, and the only thing I could think the whole time was "This is some sick, twisted, not-funny-at-all joke".
Although Rick was an highly opinionated guy who got under everyone's skin from time-to-time (myself included), he was still someone to be respected. He geniunely cared about other people, especially his friends. He was there at a moment's notice when anyone needed them, and he was always ready to listen when one of us needed to blow off steam. His apartment was where we all went to hang out and relax, or hide from our parents when we couldn't take home anymore (I did that myself a couple times) and he always took us in without a single question for as long as we needed. That's just the kind of guy he was - he really did his best to be a good friend.
If you take nothing else away from this tragedy, at least take this: don't drive drunk. Ever. Walk home, call a friend, sleep in your backseat, whatever. Just please don't drive.
Rick is the one on the right with the orange shirt (I'm on the left):
RickAndDemetri.jpg
Edit: One of just him: Rick.jpg
R.I.P. Rick, I'm sorry I wasn't as good a friend to you as you were to me.
Originally posted by: familyofacemcmac
To the friends of acemcmac,
We wanted to thank you all for your kind words and support in memory of our son and brother, Richard Smith. He was an amazing young man, and we will miss him greatly. Reading your words has meant so much to us. It is a great comfort to know that he has touched so many lives. Computers were his passion, and we know that it would mean so much to him that you all remember him so fondly.
Thank you all so much, and God bless.
~The Smith Family
If you would like to send any notes of condolence to us directly, you can email them to Rick's sister at dismith2007@yahoo.com
But please, no spam Only Rick knew how to block that stuff...
But please, no spam Only Rick knew how to block that stuff...
http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/2006/11/11-14-06tdc/11-14-06dnews-06.aspTuesday, Nov. 14, 2006 ]
Police say friends cautioned Torsell
Collegian Staff Writer
A State College police investigation revealed that several friends of Anthony Torsell tried in vain to stop him from driving drunk Oct. 28, Centre County Assistant District Attorney Steve Sloane said yesterday.
Also yesterday, a Centre County district judge said a search warrant was issued to those believed to have provided the alcohol that Torsell, 20, allegedly consumed the night police said he drove drunk and struck two pedestrians, killing one.
Sloane said State College Police Det. John Aston has interviewed more than 20 people who were at Torsell's apartment the night of the accident. Sloane said the investigation revealed that before the accident, Torsell's friends tried to prevent him from driving.
"Apparently there was a lot of underage drinking that Torsell was involved in," Sloane said. "The night started at Torsell's, then went to some other gathering."
Sloane said that after leaving his apartment and attending another party, Torsell ended up at a State College McDonalds, where his roommates found him and tried to get him a cab.
"His friends said 'Stop. We'll call you a taxi,' and he declined," Sloane said. "That is when he came through State College, and that is when it happened."
Torsell's attorney, Joseph Amendola, could not be reached for comment yesterday.
Aston said yesterday that he has tracked Torsell's actions from 4 p.m. Oct. 27 until the accident occurred, at about 2:30 a.m. Oct. 28.
He could not be reached for further comment by press time.
According to a criminal complaint, Torsell, of Bellefonte, was under the influence of alcohol while driving south on South Atherton Street at about 2:30 a.m. in a gold Buick Skylark when he hit Aaron Stidd, 20, and Richard Smith, 21, who were crossing the street westbound.
Smith died at Mount Nittany Medical Center Oct. 28. Stidd remains in critical condition at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville.
Centre County District Judge Carmine Prestia confirmed yesterday that he signed warrants for State College police to search places that Torsell had been Oct. 27 through Oct. 28.
Torsell was carrying false identification that said he was 21 years old when police arrived at the scene, according to court documents. He had a blood alcohol level of .242 percent an hour after the accident occurred, according to court documents.
Sloane said any furnishing charges that would result from the search warrants would not be related to Torsell's vehicular homicide and aggravated assault by homicide charges.
"The only thing I was interested was what kind of condition Torsell was in that evening," he said.
According to criminal complaints, Torsell told police he had been drinking but had only one drink three hours prior to driving, according to the complaint.
After failing a field sobriety test, he admitted to drinking two Saranac beers, two shots of Jagermeister and three 12-oz. cans of Coors Light beer at his apartment, 313A W. Prospect Ave., according to the complaint.
http://www.statecollege.com/news/local/article.php?cat=4&id=10854Police Searching Web Postings in Drunk Driving Case
11/09/2006 9:23 am
By: Mary Ann Zimmerman (Email)
Comments: 0 (View)
Anthony Torsell, the 20-year-old Penn State student who allegedly struck two men crossing the street on Oct. 28, killing one and critically injuring the other, had a blood-alcohol level that was more than three-times the legal limit at the time, police say.
Following the accident, police discovered that Torsell had a fake I.D.
Now, investigators are not only looking into how the minor obtained the alcohol, but are beginning to examine his old web postings, because of potential evidence that shows the suspect's attitude and prior behavior associated with drinking. Case officials are looking at Torsell's MySpace and Facebook account activities to discount the possible claim that he made a one-time mistake.
Officers are also looking into where the under-age suspect was drinking before he got into his car, an investigation that could lead to more charges.
Torsell faces numerous charges, including homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence (DUI), and aggravated assault. Both charges are felonies.
Originally posted by: TechBoyJK
this should never lose its sticky. he helped me with alot of stuff and he was cool as fvck.
[/quote][/quote]figured it was about time i added some memories of my own.
Rick was the first person to share a beer with me on a college campus, First person to share a cigar with me, First person to get me a handle of booze, First person to get me to a LAN, First person to comment on my appearance when I started to lose weight (and the only to say something every time I saw him). He was so giving to those whom he cared about. I cannot remember once where he wasn't the first to offer to cover the check regardless of whether or not he actually had the money. His friends always came first for him. I cannot begin to describe how awesome that is. I'm reminded of a line from Jackson Browne - The Late show
"Maybe people only ask you how you're doing
'cause that's easier than letting on how little they could care
But when you know that you've got a real friend somewhere
Suddenly all the others are so much easier to bear."
Rick was that real friend. He always made time for his friends, was the one searching for things to do, wanted to be together and having fun, would listen and offer advice. Life called and he more so than anyone I know had the gumption to answer it screaming demanding more. All the while still taking the time to reflect, appreciate it (the sunrise thread enough proof?) and listen.
I will miss him so much. I can only hope that I was the same for him as he was for me, but sadly I would probably guess I was not.
Originally posted by: DNvCross
I don't post here much myself, but I'm a close friend of ace's from highschool.
I recently spoke to ace's parents, and they informed me that at least he didn't suffer. he died instantly. The other pedetrian that the same driver hit did not, and is still in critical condition. I understand his outlook is grim. Please keep him and his family in your thoughts as well.
Originally posted by: TheLonelyPhoenix
Rick was killed while visiting another friend from our group who goes to PSU. More of us were invited to be there, but we lived farther away and none of us were up to driving that far. In the past day I've wondered about a thousand times if my being there could have prevented something. I just don't know.
What that article doen't tell you is that the friend he was visiting was standing 2 feet away from the accident as it happened, and one second later it would have been him killed. At the moment he is completely traumatized, a few of us have grouped up here at my apartment in Virginia to make our way back today to talk to him. He was the one who called me yesterday morning to tell me about Rick, and the only thing I could think the whole time was "This is some sick, twisted, not-funny-at-all joke".
Although Rick was an highly opinionated guy who got under everyone's skin from time-to-time (myself included), he was still someone to be respected. He geniunely cared about other people, especially his friends. He was there at a moment's notice when anyone needed them, and he was always ready to listen when one of us needed to blow off steam. His apartment was where we all went to hang out and relax, or hide from our parents when we couldn't take home anymore (I did that myself a couple times) and he always took us in without a single question for as long as we needed. That's just the kind of guy he was - he really did his best to be a good friend.
Originally posted by: Vegitto
You won't be forgotten, and I won't let this thread go down. Mods, sticky again, please .
Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2006
Torsell bound over for trial on all charges
By Jessica Turnbull email
Collegian Staff Writer
Following a five-hour preliminary hearing today, the attorney for Anthony Torsell, a Penn State student accused of hitting two men while driving under the influence, said the evidence against his client is overwhelming.
Thursday, Dec. 7, 2006
Torsell headed to trial
After the judge heard testimony from witnesses and officials, the student was bound over for trial for homicide by vehicle while DUI in connection with the fatal collision.
Thursday, Dec. 14, 2006
Students charged with furnishing
Police released the names yesterday of 17 people who allegedly supplied alcohol to the underage students involved in two recent alleged DUI incidents.
By Jessica Turnbull email
Collegian Staff Writer
Police released the names of 17 people yesterday, including 15 Penn State students, who they said supplied alcohol to underage students involved with two pedestrian accidents this semester.
http://www.topix.net/content/k...s-stand-in-fatal-crashCharges stand in fatal crash
Centre Daily Times
July 12, 2007
BELLEFONTE -- Pretrial motions including dismissing charges against a Bellefonte native accused of driving drunk when he struck two pedestrians -- killing one and critically injuring a second -- were denied in a ruling handed down Thursday by Centre County Judge Thomas King Kistler.
Anthony 'Tony' Torsell, who was 20 at the time of the fatal Oct. 28 crash, is scheduled for jury selection the first week of August and stand trial either next month or September.
'The law was squarely on our side in regards to each of these issues, so I'm not surprised,' said Centre County District Attorney Michael Madeira about the defense's across-the-board failure Thursday.
Attorney Joseph Amendola argued that his client, Torsell, was not advised of his right not to talk with police and was too intoxicated to understand what was happening to him the night of his arrest.
Amendola asked the court to suppress Torsell's statements to police -- including one in which he told police he was driving the car that struck the pedestrians -- along with evidence gathered from his vehicle and State College apartment as a result.
Kistler ruled in his 14-page opinion and order that State College police did everything by the book in arresting and questioning Torsell.
Amendola also wanted homicide by motor vehicle while driving drunk and aggravated assault charges dismissed, arguing the commonwealth did not establish that driving under the influence was a direct and substantial cause of the crash that killed one and critically injured a second pedestrian.
'In this case, defendant contends that this accident would have occurred regardless of defendant's level of intoxication,' Kistler's ruling states, a point with which the judge disagreed.
Police said Torsell's blood-alcohol content was at 0.242 percent, or three times the legal limit to drive, when he hit two pedestrians at the intersection of West Beaver Avenue and South Atherton Street at about 2:30 a.m. Oct. 28.
Richard A. Smith, 21, of Conshohocken, originally of Chadds Ford, died shortly after being struck.
Penn State student Aaron C. Stidd was critically injured and now is in rehabilitation, still unable to speak.
Amendola could not be reached for comment.