Ligonier remains a community in shock from death of officer

Across a stunned community, flags flew at half-staff, commercial signs posted messages to late Ligonier Township police Lt. Eric Eslary, and purple and black bunting draped over his firefighting gear at a makeshift memorial at Wilpen Volunteer Fire Hall.

But his fellow officers said they've had little time to grieve as they plan to memorialize their friend and colleague for two decades of devoted service at a funeral Saturday.

“This probably will be the largest funeral in this area's history. Anywhere from several hundred to more than 1,000 units could participate,” said Christopher Tantlinger, chief planner for the Westmoreland County Emergency Management Department.

Ligonier Borough Officer Greg Sullenberger, who with Tantlinger attended a three-hour meeting Wednesday to plan logistics for the funeral, said police departments have had little time to mourn.

“I have spoken to a lot of the other officers, and many said they have been unable to sleep since the accident,” he said. “Most of us have been too busy planning to have it sink in”

Eslary, 40, of Ligonier Township, was killed when a van going the wrong way on Route 30 west slammed head-on into his patrol vehicle just before 2 a.m., police said. An autopsy showed he died of multiple blunt-force injuries, according to the Westmoreland County Coroner's office.

Eslary is survived by his wife, Mary Beth, and six children.

The two men in the Chevrolet Express van — the driver, Clair Fink III, 31, of Ligonier and a passenger, Derek Gifford, 21, of Greensburg — are patients at Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center in Johnstown. Fink remained in critical condition Wednesday, while Gifford was upgraded to stable condition.

Eslary and his K-9 partner, Blek, were a well-known team in the community. Blek suffered multiple injuries in the crash. He was in stable condition and was moved Wednesday afternoon from a Monroeville facility to the Pittsburgh Veterinary Specialty & Emergency Center in the North Hills, officials said.

Sullenberger said the German shepherd didn't need surgery.

State police Trooper Stephen Limani said police have spoken with Gifford but haven't been able to talk to Fink because of the extent of his injuries.

While police have received a number of tips since the accident, they haven't determined how Fink, who was driving the van registered to Westmoreland Pool and Spa in Irwin, was headed east in the westbound lanes. Both Fink and Gifford worked for the company.“We have progressed to a point where we believe we have an idea on where (Fink and Gifford) got on the wrong side of the highway and where they may have been beforehand, but we're still working on confirming of those details,” Limani said.

He said police expect to file a search warrant next week to obtain blood samples taken from Fink after the crash. The analysis at the state police laboratory could take a few weeks, he said.

Condolences and questions about funeral services have poured into the Ligonier Township police department from across Pennsylvania and the nation, Sullenberger said.

“I know there are officers from Seattle who plan to attend,” he said.

Sullenberger and Tantlinger said the solemn atmosphere at the planning meeting was buoyed when Dawn Champion, the widow of Perryopolis Police officer Richard Champion, showed up to support the Eslary family and offer help to planners.

Richard Champion, who lived in Ligonier Township, was killed in the line of duty when his patrol car was struck along Route 51 in Perry Township on Dec. 14. His funeral also was held at Holy Trinity.

“It was really thoughtful of her and greatly appreciated by everyone,” Tantlinger said.

“Eric meant so much to this community, not only as a policeman and firefighter, but his diligence delivering anti-drug and education programs at so many area schools and organizations,” Tantlinger said.

Ligonier Valley School District had grief counselors at its schools Wednesday to help the students and staff cope with the officer's death.

“Eric was kind, compassionate, and truly cared about all of the students in our schools,” middle school Principal Dave Steimer said.

“Eric looked forward to his ‘walk-throughs' with Blek and often commented on how much he enjoyed seeing the kids. He tried to stop once a week, usually early in the morning when he was going off duty,” Steimer said.

The community has rallied to honor Eslary.

“I don't think there were very many people in Ligonier who weren't impacted by (Eslary) in some way,” said Don Gilbert, a classmate at Ligonier Valley High School.

Kim Wing, owner of the The Forks Inn on Route 711, said a number of restaurants are donating food for a dinner after the funeral service.

Wing started calling every restaurant in town after Judy Derk-Eberts, a relative of Eslary, asked if she would help with the dinner for at least 200 at Waterford Fire Hall.

“Not one person has hesitated,” she said. “I bawl just thinking about it.”

Wing set up 18 chafing pans in the fire hall Wednesday. She wasn't sure it will be enough.

Paul Peirce and Nicole Chynoweth are staff writers for Trib Total Media. Peirce can be reached at 724-850-2860 or ppeirce@tribweb.com. Chynoweth can be reached at 724-850-2862 or nchynoweth@tribweb.com.