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SIERRA VISTA — Over the weekend, Buena High School’s front and back entries were graffitied, the message “rest in peace” written on them.
The messages acknowledged the anniversary of the deaths of the four teens who died last year in three separate vehicle collisions, Principal Tad Bloss said.
The graffiti was covered up before students arrived back at school Monday, and, though Bloss said he doesn’t condone the behavior, he said he doesn’t believe this was done maliciously.
“Any student, when they do something like that, they’re not thinking of the harm. They’re not thinking of the graffiti,” Bloss said.
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He said the students were dealing with the loss of four friends, all of whom had attended or were attending Buena High School. For many of the students at Buena, the deaths of Joshua Clark, Keane Moss, James DeAnda and Tiffany LeTexier marked the first time they lost someone.
“I’m not going to say it’s OK. If someone was caught, we would deal with them the same way (we deal with others),” Bloss said. “They’re just dealing with the loss of their friend.”
Clark, 18, was killed in a vehicle accident on Highway 92 on July 20 of last year. Moss, 15, and DeAnda, 19, died after their dirt bikes collided virtually head-on Aug. 25 on Bevers Street. LeTexier, 17, was the last of the four teens to die when she walked out in front of a car on Highway 92 on Aug. 27 next to the memorial for Clark, her boyfriend.
“It was pretty depressing. It was a very emotional time,” Bloss said. “It was a great loss, and it affected a lot of kids.”
Tests later showed LeTexier, DeAnda and Moss had been drinking alcohol prior to the tragedies, and Bloss said the school has used the incidents to try and teach students about decision-making.
Bloss said he goes into every classroom each year, making sure he is able to address every student, to talk with them about various issues, one of them being decision-making.
“We use those as a teaching moment and as a reminder that bad things happen to good kids,” Bloss said. “Bad things happen to good kids that make bad decisions.”
At Tombstone High School, the death of the four teens was felt as well.
“We had a lot of our kids in there that knew those kids,” said Robert Devere, principal of Tombstone High School.
As a result, Devere said they used it as a way to teach kids about drugs and alcohol.
“Those types of things hit home,” he said.
Tombstone High School had a couple of major programs. One of those was a fake drunken driving crash that was done at the end of the school year.
“The sheriff’s department did another lecture. It talked specifically about those four kids and used it as an example,” Devere said, adding that at least one of the presentations included the teens’ blood alcohol level. “It makes a huge difference, instead of police standing up and telling kids ‘Don’t drink and drive.’ ”
Families react
The Herald/Review asked the families of the four teens who died last year to write a reflection of the past year. Here is what was submitted by three of the families.
From Joshua Clark’s family:
Joshua Clark #37
I never thought I would be writing about the loss of my son,
I cannot explain how much my heart aches.
He was a great son, brother and friend to all who knew him.
I thank God for giving you to us for 18 wonderful years,
we have lots of happy memories of you Joshua,
that is what keeps us going.
We miss your cute smile, your silly giggle.
A part of us died with you Joshua. But a part of you lives on in us.
One day we will all be together again.
Momma, Ty, Zack and Adam
From James DeAnda’s family:
James DeAnda
This has been a rough year for all of us.
We miss our James so much it can’t be explained.
He left an impact on many people in his life.
I have never been so proud of someone as I am James.
He worked so hard to make us all proud of him.
He didn’t have to try hard.
There isn’t a day that we don’t think of him.
And there have been many tears shed, but some
happy tears. I know I will see him one day in heaven.
We miss you son, brother, uncle, love of our lives.
Dad, Mom, Andrea, Gabby, Anthony, Edward, and Tomi
From PJ LeTexier, Tiffany LeTexier’s mother:
Tiffany LeTexier
As we approach these days to come I personally want to express my deepest and sincere sympathy to the 66-year-old nurse who was on her way to work when my daughter, Tiffany LeTexier, stepped out in front of her car. I am so very sorry.
This past year has been so emotionally difficult for me. I’m constantly feeling so selfish at times because I’m grieving the loss of my only child, at the same time, I keep reminding myself that many others are grieving the loss of four teenagers. Another teenager is also grieving the loss of his brother who died in Iraq just months before. I can’t even begin to imagine how painful it is for these kids to grieve the loss of so many, especially in such a short period of time. My thoughts and prayers will always be with all of you. For the graduating Class of 2008, I wish you all the best!
Words cannot describe my pain I have for the loss of my daughter. I miss her so much. What comforts me most is knowing that she is at peace, finally.
My last words: Prevent. Don’t provide. Tiffany would say: Live, love, laugh
REPORTER Katie Evans can be reached at 515-4611 or by e-mail at katie.evans@svherald.com.
SVH EDITOR wrote on Sep 2, 2008 4:34 PM: