NORTH PORT - A woman killed with one of her sons when they got out of their vehicle to help a motorcyclist after a freeway crash is being remembered as a mother who often stressed to her children the importance of being good Samaritans.
Marsha Gambill, 36, and her older son, Brian Gambill, 14, died Saturday night on Interstate 75 in southwest Florida when a van ran into them and motorcyclist Brian Dess in the darkened median. Dess also died.
"I just can't believe it. She was a good, churchgoing woman who loved her sons," said Gambill's Cape Coral neighbor, Tony Grande.
"She worked six days a week and long hours to be sure her boys had the things they needed."
The other son, 12-year-old Brad, was not with his mother and brother at the time.
The Florida Highway Patrol said Tuesday that lighting on that stretch of interstate was knocked out by Hurricane Charley.
"It would have helped, but it wouldn't have prevented it," said FHP spokesman Lt. Doug Dodson. "It just happened too quick."
