Erica Beth Frydrych

Community torn in tragic tale Firefighter faces judge today for crash February 23, 2000 ASSOCIATED PRESS ROSCOMMON, MI — A volunteer firefighter who was speeding to the scene of a crash struck and killed a 17-year-old homecoming queen finalist. Five months later, the Gerrish Township firefighter is heading to court this week on a negligent homicide charge. And residents of the rural northern Michigan community are trying to balance compassion for the young victim and sympathy for the well-liked defendant. Erica Frydrych was driving on Roscommons main street Sept. 17 when her pickup truck was struck broadside by a larger truck driven by Terry Gallagher, 55. Gallagher, a self-employed electrician and 37-year volunteer firefighter, was on his way to a crash on I-75. Police say he was driving 57 m.p.h. to 63 m.p.h. in a 35 m.p.h. zone and was not using his siren.