- April 19, 2024
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Kathy Boos’ husband and children know exactly when they last spoke to their mother. On Friday, March 11, 2016 her daughter, Kelly Wise-Chapman, spoke to her at 4:25 p.m.; her husband, Robert, at 6 p.m.; and her son, Mark, the last one to speak to her, at 6:06 p.m., when she was in Flagler Beach with her brother-in-law, Carl Boos. A few minutes later Kathy and Carl were killed on A1A. It would be Mark Boos who would come upon the accident after receiving a call from his father that the pair had not made it home.
William Gerald Schwarz was the driver of the Mercury that attempted to pass on the two-lane road and hit the car Kathy Boos was driving head-on, killing her and her brother-in-law. Schwarz was taken in critical condition to Halifax Hospital where he remained in a coma for several months.
How did it happen? That remains in question, although FlaglerLive reported that “a doctor who helped at the scene in the immediate aftermath told investigators that she smelled alcohol on the breath of the driver of the Mercury.” The Boos said this was confirmed by the Florida Highway Patrol.
The Observer could not independently verify whether alcohol had anything to do with the crash. “The blood results are still pending in this case. No charges have been filed at this time,” FHP Master Sgt. Dylan Byran said in an email.
However it happened, the tragedy has changed the Boos family forever. They started the Kathy Boos Foundation with the mission is to combat drunk driving through education, awareness and community action.
“It’s all about moving forward for us,” Wise-Chapman said.
“My whole intent of the Foundation is to educate the children from elementary through high school and college,” Robert Boos said.
Kathy Boos owned the Sew & Quilt shop in Bunnell and was active within the community, especially with organizations that involved children.
“One of the things about my mom: We have always been very involved in this community,” Wise-Chapman said. “My mother always believed in supporting this community and I believe that comes back.”
The foundation is working on adding non-voting student liaisons from Flagler Palm Coast and Matanzas high schools to the board to help coordinate with events like Red Ribbon week. The Future Problem Solvers at FPC have indicated an interest in making the foundation’s goal one of their projects.
“We want to change the culture; this is not OK, this practice is not OK,” Wise-Chapman said. “If we can change the culture at a younger age, and this can impact their parents, that’s where we want to go. It’s not just drunk driving, it’s impaired driving.”
The foundation, a member of the Flagler County Chamber of Commerce, hands out literature at First Friday in Flagler Beach, and will be at the Creekside Festival at Princess Place on Oct. 8 and 9.
“We will be parking cars for the Chamber,” Robert Boos said. “We will also have a booth for the foundation. I am looking for six people per hour, for two days – one hour shifts.” He added: “The booth will be the hardest part for our family.”
“Creekside will be our first event. It’s about getting information out,” Wise-Chapman said. “Even if there is only one person, one child who listens, we can make a difference that might affect someone else’s family.”
To volunteer at the Creekside Festival with the Kathy Boos Foundation
Email the Foundation at [email protected]
Shifts are in one-hour increments
Update on the driver
As of this date, no charges have been filed against William Gerald Schwarz. The Florida Highway Patrol continues to work the investigation.
Search for this headline on palmcoastobserver.com to read the previous story — Palm Coast Resident Kathleen Jonas Boos and Easton, Pennsylvania resident Carl William Boos killed in Oceanshore Boulevard crash
