Motorcyclist charged with manslaughter in death of Fairport teacher

Posted at: 07/30/2012 12:09 PM | Updated at: 07/31/2012 2:35 PM
By: Amanda Ciavarri | WHEC.com

A community is left to cope with the lost of a Fairport teacher after she was hit and killed while riding her bicycle Sunday.

Heather Boyum was killed in the crash. A man in his twenties is now charged with manslaughter. 

According to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, Boyum was riding her bike when she was hit by a motorcycle and then a car. Deputies say 22-year-old Mark Scerbo II was driving the motorcycle.

The driver of the car involved, 23-year-old Megan Merkle, is also facing DWI charges. 

News10NBC has learned from the New York State DMV that neither of them had licenses. Merkle has never had a New York State license and at one time, Scerbo had a permit, but was forced to surrender it after a DWI conviction. Scerbo has a list of past  convictions. 

Ronald Verstraete, who heard the crash, said, “I was getting up out of bed in the morning and all of sudden, I heard this ungodly noise, I looked out the window and all I see is piece of debris flying down the road.”

Verstraete immediately told his wife to call 911. A memorial now marks the scene of the accident. 

Monroe County Sheriff’s Deputies say just before 8:00a.m. Sunday on Route 250, Heather Boyum was riding her bike in the shoulder. Sheriff’s Deputies say 23-year-old Megan Merkle was driving her car northbound on the road and her boyfriend, Mark Scerbo II, was driving his motorcycle near her. They say he was driving recklessly and tried to pass Merkle’s car in the shoulder while he hit Boyum. She was thrown off her bicycle and hit by Merkle’s car. Boyum was pronounced dead later at the hospital.

Boyum was a teacher at Fairport High School, a mother and a wife. News10NBC spoke to one of her students. 

Jillian DeVito said, “As a teacher, she was an amazing teacher. She literally dedicated all her time to teaching students. She tutored; she took extra time after school, before school, to meet with students who were struggling.” 

DeVito also babysat for Boyum’s two young children. She says Boyum loved her son and daughter more than anything. 

Deputies charged Merkle, the driver of the car, with DWI Sunday. On Monday, Scerbo was charged with manslaughter. According to the Department of Corrections, he was released earlier this month from state prison for multiple DWI charges and was on parole at the time of the crash. He has not been charged with DWI in this crash. 

On Sunday students, friends, and family of Boyum came out to Fairport High School to honor her life and promise she won’t be forgotten. 

Scerbo was arraigned on second degree manslaughter at the hospital Monday afternoon. He was ordered to be held with no bail once he is released from the Strong Hospital. The Sheriff’s Office is still investigating. They are not saying one way or the other if additional charges will be filed against Merkel.  

 

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