Military News - Military Times

2 airmen killed in hit-and-run; man charged

Erin and Daniel Schoen shared a love for the Air Force and for bodybuilding. The couple met at Hurlburt Field, Fla., and married two years ago, with Daniel becoming the stepfather of Erin’s two sons — Brian Wilson, 13, and Dimitri Schoen, 5.

The family lived in Navarre and had two family dogs, one recently adopted.

Daniel and Erin were walking their dogs Sunday evening when the two were fatally struck in a hit-and-run accident on Pawnee Drive in Navarre. One dog was also hit and died. The other survived.

Tech. Sgt. Daniel Schoen, 32, was a flight-line expeditor with the 1st Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron; Staff Sgt. Erin Schoen, 31, was the noncommissioned officer in charge of the Life Skills Support Center. A memorial service for the Schoens will be held at 9:00 a.m. Monday at Hurlburt.

Robert Hill, 20, of Navarre is charged with perjury in an official proceeding and leaving the scene of a fatal accident in connection with the crash. Investigators said Hill “gave numerous false statements about the basic facts of the crash.”

He surrendered Monday to law enforcement and remained in Santa Rosa County Jail on Tuesday. His bond was set at $75,000.

“It’s quite a shock,” said Erin’s mother, Nancy Pfeifer, 62, of Baden, Pa. “They both had such vitality and loved life so much. They loved their kids and their animals.”

Daniel, a fixture at Navarre Fitness Center, and Erin were champion bodybuilders.

“He was going pro in November,” said Vanessa Taylor, a manager at Navarre Fitness. “Not an ounce of body fat on him. He was ripped.”

Taylor said the center plans to return Daniel’s membership fee to the family and give the family donations collected at the center.

The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the couple’s death.

Hill told the patrol he knew he hit something but didn’t know what, according to a FHP report.

He also said he had two beers the day of the accident, according to the report.

The Schoens were walking south on Pawnee Drive near Sunset Drive, not far from their home, about 7:30 p.m. Sunday when investigators suspect the couple was hit by Hill’s 1988 Ford F-150 pickup.

Marcus Prudhomme, 34, of Navarre said he, his wife, Kelli, 35, were traveling north on Pawnee Drive on Sunday when he saw a truck headed south with its headlights off.

Marcus Prudhomme said he was going to flash his lights to alert the driver that his lights were off, but he didn’t get a chance. He said the truck quickly turned east onto Sunset Drive.

“He turned right in front of me,” Prudhomme said. “He turned at a high rate of speed. I applied brakes and was like, ‘Whoa. That was kind of abrupt.’”

Marcus Prudhomme said it appeared as though two other pickups were following the Ford, and one almost hit his vehicle. The Prudhommes continued on Pawnee Drive and found the Schoens.

Prudhomme said he and his wife immediately got out their vehicle, and they both called 911 on their cell phones.

“We immediately went over to the individuals,” Marcus Prudhomme said. “We asked if they were OK, could they hear us, and to see if we could get a response.”

Paramedics later arrived, but Daniel Schoen was pronounced dead at the scene.

Erin Schoen was breathing, had a light pulse and raised one of her arms, Marcus Prudhomme said.

“We went over to her to give her aid and encouragement,” Marcus Prudhomme said. “‘You can make it. You can make it.’ That’s what I kept telling her.”

Erin Schoen was taken to Baptist Hospital, where she was pronounced dead at noon Monday.

The surviving dog is at the Santa Rosa County animal shelter.

“It’s not up for adoption,” said Joy Tsubooka, spokeswoman for Santa Rosa County. “We are letting the family have the appropriate amount of time to get their affairs in order. We will go with whatever they ask us to do from there.”