Posted by uknow1 on April 22, 2008 at 6:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Are local driving schools adequately doing their job when young drivers make such poor choices so often? What is the mindset of kids who have chosen to not wear seatbelts and to drive beyond their skill level at the same time?

Parents: Don't leave it up to the driving schools to instill common sense in your new driver. Get engaged in teaching them how to drive. They're at high risk until they're about 25 years old.

Posted by Equitable_Enforcer on April 22, 2008 at 9:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Any amount of education/training will not prevent irresponsibility such as was demonstrated by all four occupants of the vehicle. Their high speed drive down the 33 was nothing less than a suicide run. Not only were they not wearing seatbelts, from evidence at the scene, it is possible that alcohol was involved. I've seen many programs designed to alert youth to the possible consequences of driving under the influence, including viewing autopsy films, visiting jails, etc. What will work? I sure don't know.

Posted by charli5cats on April 22, 2008 at 9:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I am heartbroken about Desi. I have loved her dearly for the last 7 years. I will miss her. My heart goes out to you Dianna, Dari and Denise.

Posted by gramsmif on April 22, 2008 at 9:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I am shocked at the comments listed here. This is a horrible tragedy, no matter who did what or how it happened. To attack the victims is unbelieveable. My heart goes out to this family; parents,sisters, brothers, grandparents and everyone. There but for the grace of god goes everyone one of us at sometime in our lives. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time.

Posted by surfmedic91 on April 22, 2008 at 9:56 a.m.

(This thread was removed by the site staff.)

Posted by tearfulandsad23 on April 22, 2008 at 9:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)

the comments made are very rude and unemotional. seemingly taken from the standpoint of an adult who has seen one too many deaths. my advice is not to post such rude comments underneath an article in which friends and family look upon, because we are in mourning and we know what could happened or should have happened but guess what IT DIDN'T and there is nothing anybody can do to change that! my prayers go to desiree and to her family.i will miss you

Posted by Equitable_Enforcer on April 22, 2008 at 10:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)

gramsmif and others, I've seen too much uncalled for death and grieving in my lifetime. It is my conviction that now is the time for people to analyze what went wrong and what can be done to reduce the chance of a repeat by other kids while the shock is fresh. Yes, some of the comments have been rudeand uncalled for. Others, however, are meant to be constructive.

Posted by tearfulandsad23 on April 22, 2008 at 10:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)

people aren't stupid but it's easy to make mistakes. nobody is perfect and all the young people my age just want to "be cool" and fall heavily into peer pressure. we are taught again and again these things are bad by our parents with commercials. buckle up don't do drugs!etc...etc.. but it's our choice is what it boils down too... choking us with words does nothing but anger us. when you get away with something whose to say you wont get away with it again , no one could have known this was going to happen.
my love goes out to the departed everywhere
I've lost many friends this last year it's tough
i love you dessi

Posted by ireadthenews on April 22, 2008 at 10:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)

tearfulandsad23......WELL SAID!
Condolences to the family and friends!

Posted by slkrchck on April 22, 2008 at 11:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)

was this desi from the hueneme school district years ago/ i remember sisters, happy smiles and red hair. condolences.

Posted by oxnard40 on April 22, 2008 at 12:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Raise the age to 21 to drive. This eliminates all teenage driver accidents. It will also take more cars off the road, lower the demand on gas, force underage individuals to ride share with an adult or mass transit. This is a win-win situation.

Did this tragedy have anything to do with the "smoker's holiday" of 4-20?

Posted by djyinyang on April 22, 2008 at 12:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

omg desi was my close friend ive spent many days just chillin with you like villans,your red hair and big smiles will always be forever engraved in my memories. im going to miss you my dear ..

always remember the laundromat with you .. :(
shauwnie

Posted by Comments on April 22, 2008 at 1:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I'm very, very sorry to hear about the tragic loss of yet another (very) young person. My heart goes out to this young woman's family and friends. May they find peace during this difficult time.

I would like to add that I wonder why this tragic accident isn't garnering the media attention and the public comments in the same way that the death of young Cody did just a couple of weeks ago. Is it because people have become numb or bored or have given out their sympathy quote for the year? Yes, I get that he was a high school student so it may have been more sensational, but they were only a year apart in age and there were HS students involved in this crash as well. I am just really wondering why there isn't the public attention to this tragedy. Will the Star cover the funeral in the same way? Will sensitive, sad pictures of grieving friends be published? Where are all the stories about this girl's life? What am I missing?

Posted by Relvd98 on April 22, 2008 at 2:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Comments-no, you are not missing a darn thing. You hit it right on the money.

Posted by Comments on April 22, 2008 at 3 p.m. (Suggest removal)

And, now the story is no longer on the front page of the online version. Pathetic.

Posted by ebrockway on April 22, 2008 at 5:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)

xrtech24,
You have the right to free speech, same as anyone else. Start up your own newspaper, pay to have a website set up and maintained and you can say whatever you want.The Star site is privately owned, they can delete whatever you said, or delete what I'm saying now.
I know the mom has been here reading the comments, and I know she and her husband didn't raise her to make the choices she made that broke their hearts.
tearfulandsad23 said it the absolute best, and was one who I'm betting learned a painful lesson, if friends don't want to buckle up, make 'em walk for one thing.

Posted by powtsie on April 22, 2008 at 6:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Unfortunately our young youth feel that they do not need to follow rules and laws. I realize that they feel inviencable. Children need to know that we have rules and laws for the very reason why she unfortunately died for not wearing her seat belt, we have lived years of awful stories of people who do not wear seat belts and drive too fast. I have 5 children of my own from 15 to 21 and they have broken rules and laws, they now know the consiquences of driving to fast and thank GOD my daughter had her seat belt on for she too would have been taken way too soon. My prayers to the Mooney Family. And to the other children who will remember this awful tragedy for something so simple.

Posted by dvond on April 22, 2008 at 6:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)

im sickend by some of your comments, its obvious your not using your own common sense to write such opionated and judging comments about a tragady that you know the family is reading , so i will enlighten you,the family is probably in a state of shock , then deep depression and sorrow, then they will be so malnurished and sleep deprived and completely drained they baiscally feel like a zombie with whomever they come in contact with , then theres the mourning and yet more depression and you writing such things all on top of that . so i just want to say LAY OFF!!! let them be .there going through enough.you cant take your own issues out on the familys , any of them , there all im sure in there own state of hell and my heart and prayers go out to all of you.

Posted by powtsie on April 22, 2008 at 6:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I did not judge anyone here. I do not have that right. It is just unfortuate that she did not wear her belt, and the other children are so lucky for not wearing there's either

Posted by dvond on April 22, 2008 at 6:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)

oh no i wasnt refering to you , i just know how it is for people to kick you when your down .i have kids too i know there going to make bad decisions i did when i was that age all you can do is be there for them when they do and every one learns from that , and also trust in god thet it was the plan.i think just by hearing about this accident kids will be shocked enough and sadened to think twice

Posted by momto2 on April 22, 2008 at 10:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I think this isn't the appropriate space for people to get on their soap boxes. It is simply put, a horrible tragedy. An accident. The family is in shock and are grieving this terrible loss. They do not need to hear how some of you feel. Save it for a better time and place. Better yet, volunteer to go to your local High Schools to talk to the students; volunteer at your churches to speak to the young people there, but leave it alone here so that the family can come on this and read about the people who will miss their daughter, sister, aunt and friend. Desi was a good person, filled with joy and happiness. She was sweet to my daughter and a very non-judgemental person as well. Her sisters are the same way. My heart goes out to the family. Know that you are in my thoughts and prayers. Sara, Danny and Kelley

Posted by ebrockway on April 22, 2008 at 11:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Anyway, the obit isn't out yet, but viewing is scheduled for Thurs 5pm to 8pm, services are Fri at 11am at Griffin Bros Mortuary on Daily Dr in Camarillo next to Wood Ranch BBQ. Be a wake at the house afterward.

Posted by killer2311 on April 22, 2008 at 11:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)

desi was an old freind. She will be missed, as she always was. many days were spent just chillin' around town with the good ol' crew. she was one of the happiest people i have ever known.

what can be said, nothing. my words can do nothing to un-do what has happened. my condolences to her family and freinds.
we will chill again one day desi.

and for those of you who would anylyze this event. DONT. "one cannot analyze what they cannot understand"
-unknown

Posted by srcheek on April 23, 2008 at 11:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Again, please don't use this forum for the whole "well, they didn't wear their seatbelts, what did they expect?" speeches. The families and friends of these kids are reading these comments. They need support, not criticism.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinions for sure but I just want my brother to come home.
I frankly don't care who thinks he should have worn a seatbelt or who thinks they should have driven more safely. A girl died and three boys are severely injured.
The survivors have a long road of recovery ahead of them and they ALL deserve good wishes and love, not recrimination.

Posted by AnnaWhaat on April 23, 2008 at 2:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)

ebrockway ,Did they erase all the comments? I see mine isn't here. I did nothing but send prayers to the family and friends. Also to the boy whose brother was in the car and getting ready for another surgery. I hope and pray his surgery came out well.
momto2 ,I completely agree! I have the family in my prayers and can not even imagine how is would feel to loose a child. And believe me my heart goes out to them deeply!!!!
srcheek ,I think it was you I wrote to. I pray for your brother and his friends. I hope they all recover! Please try and stay strong for your family. God Bless!!!!

Posted by ebrockway on April 23, 2008 at 9:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Anna; Several stories, your comment is here;

http://www.venturacountystar.com/news...

Posted by kellyz24 on April 23, 2008 at 10:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

ok first of all my roommates and i were one of the first ones on the scenes the police asked us if we saw anything and since we didnt technically see the crash they told us to leave! second to all you people saying she wasnt wearing a seatbelt...she was!!!! the guy who was there first didnt even look in the car my roommate did and she was hanging upside down..sorry to go into detail like that but i want you all to know she WAS WEARING A SEATBELT!! and when my roommate walked away to help the other guy somebody unfastened it. people r telling roomers and im sick of it so if you want to hear it from someone who was there and will tell the truth there it is..p.s. im terribly sorry to all the friends and family that are involved it was a terrible accident and sorries mean nothing when your babies are involved. know that you are loved again many sorries

Posted by kellyz24 on April 23, 2008 at 10:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)

im so angry at reading these comments about her not wearing a seatbelt and bla bla bla.. she wasthe only one wearing a seatbelt you people dont know what your saying!!!

Posted by ebrockway on April 24, 2008 at 9:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Obituary is up, as well as the guestbook;
http://tinyurl.com/5fk8yv

Posted by Comments on April 24, 2008 at 2:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I'd still like to know why the Star isn't giving this situation similar coverage to the other accident that took another teen's life 2 weeks ago?

Shame on you Star!

Posted by jonikadow on April 24, 2008 at 10:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)

To Dessi's family, I don't know how to tell you how heavy my heart is! I was in shock the night I got the phone call from the nurse at CMH that my son was in a auto accident! I was told there were four people in the car and the only girl didn't make it! I didn't know who it was at first . I asked the nurse if my other son was there too ? she told me to call County Hosp. I did and found out my other son was in ICU and My heart sank to my stomach, I feel very very lucky, my boys are gunna make it, it may take up to a year for them each to recover, but they are alive! I do thank god for that, One of my sons told me there was two things Dessi never did that was drive under the inflince or drive without a seatbelt, And when he told me he was dead searious! He was there ! I met Dessi a few times, I thought she was a very sweet soft spoken girl with a kind heart, and like everyone else, its very hard to imangine we will never see her again, its all to overwhelming , and so sad, One remembers everything the other nothing at all, my heart goes out to Dessi's family. There was no alcohol at the scene and thats a fact, the info is not from my son either.

Posted by DianaHatcher on April 24, 2008 at 11:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)

kellyz24

thank you so much for clarifying. DESIREE WAS WEARING HER SEATBELT. As Kelly said, she was hanging upside down from it. I don't know why it was printed that NONE of them was wearing a seatbelt. Look at the facts. Desi was the only one who WAS NOT ejected. People like to over-dramatize tragedy. Let me tell you that its hard enough losing your baby without people making it worse by their assumptions and trying to force everyone else to believe them.

Erick thanks for pointing our err's in the comments and for protecting us.

Kadow - I wanted to let you know that I have spoken with Jeremy twice. He called me late last night and I called him at 6:30 this morning. He explained in detail to me his feelings and injuries. We are all good. I pray that he has a complete recovery.

Thank you to EVERYONE who has signed the Guest Book. I will be buying a copy.

D.

Posted by DianaHatcher on April 24, 2008 at 11:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Erick

Also, thanks for pointing out that YES we DO read these comments, several times a day.

D.

Posted by DianaHatcher on April 24, 2008 at 11:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)

And to everyone who may be interested, there will be an article in the Camarillo Acorn ABOUT Desi, not about this accident. I believe it will be in tomorrow's edition.

Thanks for all the love and support.

Posted by ebrockway on April 25, 2008 at 1:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Here's some pics of Desi;
http://tinyurl.com/5hg7fk

Posted by AnnaWhaat on April 25, 2008 at 8:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)

kadow , I am praying for your boys as well as the other one, And Desi's family and friends.Please try to stay strong as hard as it is for your sake and your boys. May God be with you during this terrible accident.

Posted by AnnaWhaat on April 25, 2008 at 8:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)

ebrockway , I debated on looking at the site. I feel so bad for her loss of life. She seemed to have a wonderful family full of love and she was a beautiful young woman with the most beautiful eyes I have seen. Thankyou!!!!!

Posted by Face on April 25, 2008 at 10:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Though the seatbelt information may or maynot be correct. The story states, "None of the four people in the car was wearing a seat belt, the CHP reported." So based on that, it is not rumor mongering but perhaps a misreporting. That being said, this tragedy occurred. It could have been much worse. Speeding is dangerous, and maybe some parents will talk to their children about it and possibly future lives can be spared.

Posted by srcheek on April 25, 2008 at 12:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I just want to say that the staff at VCMC are nothing short of heroes. Everyone there, down to the janitorial staff, are amazing and my family appreciates their efforts so much.

Posted by ebrockway on April 25, 2008 at 2:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)

jonikadow
You need to talk to Diana. She has a story to tell you about a picture of your son and Desi that was "found" last night, just in time to place on the casket this morning.
Tell your boy he was there

Posted by DianaHatcher on April 26, 2008 at 10:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)

dvond

Thank you for your comment, it is very hard to deal with and the negative comments are just a constant reminder.

Posted by DianaHatcher on April 26, 2008 at 11:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)

To all who are interested, I went to the hospital today to see Jeremy. I met his mother and whom I believe to be his (step?)father. She hugged me for a long time and then the 2 of them left so that I could spend time with just Jeremy. This was a hard thing for me to do. He has offered to tell me the complete details of the accident as he was contious the entire time. however I am not ready to ask many questions. I intend to see him in the hospital again, probably within the next couple of days. He has a large heart and he will help me get thru this and I will help him.

Posted by dvond on April 27, 2008 at 1:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)

dianahatcher your very welcome. my family and i have been praying for all of you to get through this my heart goes out to all of the familys involved and other kids , i lived in the same neighborhood as you in vta and i remember seeing desi all the time walking she always was smiling and would say hi to me , this just breaks my heart , btw im kayls sister .
donna

Posted by DianaHatcher on April 27, 2008 at 9:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Donna, I should have guessed you would speak highly of Desi. I'm glad you have identified yourself. It's hard to figure out what I'm going to say to everyone when I don't know who I'm speaking to. Now I know. There is a more personal connection.

Posted by DianaHatcher on April 27, 2008 at 9:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)

The article came out in the Camarillo Acorn on Friday and of course, I didn't get a copy. So, I'm still waiting to see the article. I have spoken to the reporter who wrote the article. He states that there was a printing error and not the whole story was printed. So, they will be printing it again in next Friday's edition.