CNU student dies from crash injuries

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - William Cameron Schlifke, known to his friends as Cameron, was stopped at a red light Saturday, when police say a drunk driver slammed into the back of his car. Schlifke died Monday night.

He was a senior at Christopher Newport University and a devoted member of his fraternity, Pi Lambda Phi. His brothers tell WAVY.com they are devastated at Schlifke's death and they are also furious that his life was taken by a drunk driver. They say Schlifke was a fun and funny guy who everyone liked having around.

He was a political science major, preparing for graduation in May. His fraternity brothers say Schlifke was their designated driver Friday night and he was on his way to pick up some of his friends from a party when the accident happened on J. Clyde Morris Boulevard. They say he died trying to save their lives.

Schlifke, who is from Fairfax, was in a Volkswagen Jetta, stopped at a red light, when a 2006 Acura driven by fellow CNU student Eric Fowler, slammed into Schlifke's and another car. Harold Eley, with Newport News Police, says Fowler's Acura rear-ended the Jetta, forcing it into a Ford Mustang also stopped at the light. The woman driving the Mustang, a 19-year-old CNU student, received minor injuries. The crash happened in front of Riverside Regional Medical Center.

Fowler, 20, of Goodwin Road in Newport News, was arrested at the scene and charged with DUI Refusal, Reckless Driving and Under Age Possession charges. Following Schlifke's death, police upgraded the charges to include Involuntary Manslaughter (DUI). Fowler is now being held at the Newport News City Jail on no bond.

Schlifke's fraternity brothers are devastated.

"I just wish that he would have been able to walk away from this," says Patrick Glass, one of Schlifke's Pi Lam brothers.  "He was the designated driver that night.  Cameron was making up for a time that he had missed and felt bad about it and wanted to redeem himself, wanted to make up for it. He was coming from his apartment to pick up some brothers at a party."

"I don't care how old you are. You shouldn't be drinking and driving," says Michael Morrissey, another Pi Lam brother.

"There's not words for it. It infuriates me. It infuriates brothers," says Glass.

Glass and Morrissey remember racing to the scene around 2 a.m.

"When we talked to the police officer she said 'go across the street,' that's when it really hit hard. We got to the hospital. People were standing outside crying," says Morrissey.

After they saw Cameron, some of his Pi Lam brothers stopped by his apartment where they found his cell phone, wallet, and iPod lying neatly on his desk.  Three possessions they say he never left behind.

Monday night, Cameron died from his injuries.  The last entry he ever posted on his Instant Messenger, was an eerie foreshadowing.

The final paragraph reads: "Forgive me father for my complaints, I am but a human with my human desires I am bound to sin but in time I hope to be your child...."

"What more can you do than give your life for your brothers?" asks Morrissey.

Schlifke's fraternity brothers plan to hold a memorial service for him on CNU's campus next Tuesday. A time hasn't been decided yet.  They also say he will get his diploma, as scheduled, in May.  One of their brothers plans to finish his last project, so Cameron will get his full credit.