Covina woman killed in crash was returning from Mt. SAC field trip

Family members and friends on Tuesday mourned the loss of a 21-year-old community college student who died Sunday night when the van in which she was riding overturned in Kern County.

[Trish]

Kaitlyn will be sadly missed by all that had the honor of knowing her. She was such a great kid. I will always remember her smile and her vibrant personality! She loved to bake , especially cupcakes..... My daughter was blessed to have had Kaitlyn in her life. I am going to miss her. My thoughts and prayers are with Kaitlyn and her family.

[John Q Public]

wow, driving 80mph to keep up with the other cars in the caravan...not good. Why was everybody speeding.
I realize it's easy to do on open stretches in the desert but...

[Patches Ohoulihan]

Senseless.

[Considerate]

John Q and Patches- You might want to consider that this article and information may not be completely accurate. The only fact is that a wonderful person was lost. Try being supportive for the family, friends, and others involved, instead of passing judgment on the situation.

Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone who has been affected by this tragic event.

[Patches Ohoulihan]

Considerate wrote:

John Q and Patches- You might want to consider that this article and information may not be completely accurate. The only fact is that a wonderful person was lost. Try being supportive for the family, friends, and others involved, instead of passing judgment on the situation.
Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone who has been affected by this tragic event.

I had a one word comment, "senseless"...any way you cut it, it was senseless.

[Katelyn]

I was in that car. How dare you say it was senseless and yes, this article is deeply flawed. That's why when you research things, news articles are low on the totem-pole, because people gather their information in a hurry without checking the accuracy of their information.

We were not traveling at 80 mph as they would have you believe. None of us saw the car coming until we were already in the other lane...
It was an accident and OBVIOUSLY if ANY of us had seen this coming, it would have been prevented. And maybe it's the school's fault for having such loose regulations of letting students drive and not an expert on the handling of their faulty vehicles.
And please take note that they said NOTHING about the air bags NOT DEPLOYING.

[Patches Ohoulihan]

Katelyn wrote:

I was in that car. How dare you say it was senseless and yes, this article is deeply flawed. That's why when you research things, news articles are low on the totem-pole, because people gather their information in a hurry without checking the accuracy of their information.
We were not traveling at 80 mph as they would have you believe. None of us saw the car coming until we were already in the other lane...
It was an accident and OBVIOUSLY if ANY of us had seen this coming, it would have been prevented. And maybe it's the school's fault for having such loose regulations of letting students drive and not an expert on the handling of their faulty vehicles.
And please take note that they said NOTHING about the air bags NOT DEPLOYING.

Oh I see where this is going. You are insinuating that it was someone elses fault. Typical. Just for your information, Airbags typically deploy on front end collisions(that is where the impact sensors are) they weren't designed to save anyone when the vehicle flips. Clear things up, Did this drivers actions not lead to this accident???

[Patches Ohoulihan]

Katelyn wrote:

I was in that car. How dare you say it was senseless and yes, this article is deeply flawed. That's why when you research things, news articles are low on the totem-pole, because people gather their information in a hurry without checking the accuracy of their information.
We were not traveling at 80 mph as they would have you believe. None of us saw the car coming until we were already in the other lane...
It was an accident and OBVIOUSLY if ANY of us had seen this coming, it would have been prevented. And maybe it's the school's fault for having such loose regulations of letting students drive and not an expert on the handling of their faulty vehicles.
And please take note that they said NOTHING about the air bags NOT DEPLOYING.

Sounds like there was negligence on the drivers part, therefore...senseless.

It's a tragic accident no doubt, a senseless tragic accident!

[Patches Ohoulihan]

Katelyn wrote:

I was in that car. How dare you say it was senseless and yes, this article is deeply flawed. That's why when you research things, news articles are low on the totem-pole, because people gather their information in a hurry without checking the accuracy of their information.
We were not traveling at 80 mph as they would have you believe. None of us saw the car coming until we were already in the other lane...
It was an accident and OBVIOUSLY if ANY of us had seen this coming, it would have been prevented. And maybe it's the school's fault for having such loose regulations of letting students drive and not an expert on the handling of their faulty vehicles.
And please take note that they said NOTHING about the air bags NOT DEPLOYING.

Oh one more thing, "faulty" airbags don't cause accidents. Stop blaming everyone else and just accept it was a lapse in good judgement that caused this. It's not the school's fault or anyone elses.

[Jasmine]

I was also in that van and I feel very fortunate to have walked away from that van with minor injuries. I did not comment this article to point fingers at any particular person. I commented this article to remind people that a young, precious life was lost in a very tragic way. Please everyone keep Kaitlyn and her loved ones in your thoughts. Also, please keep the driver of the van in your thoughts. I am sure he is going through alot and it is going to be very difficult for him to have to live with himself. This accident could have easily been prevented. I urge everyone to practice necessary precautions while driving to prevent other families like Kaitlyn's from suffering the heartache that has been brought upon them.

[AyeAyeAye]

I'm quite surprised to know that students are allowed to drive passenger vans that can carry up to ten passengers.
I know the Enterprise van pool that many of the people I work with come in on have very strict regulations on who may drive the van. Potential drivers not only have dmv background checks but medical evaluations as well...afterall there are many lives in the hands of the driver.

[Lesley]

jesus christ, why can they just slow down to speed limit like 65 mph and enjoy the ride home safely .

[JackSchitt]

Patches Ohoulihan wrote:

<quoted text>
Oh one more thing, "faulty" airbags don't cause accidents. Stop blaming everyone else and just accept it was a lapse in good judgement that caused this. It's not the school's fault or anyone elses.

Come on Patches, you know the kids today aren't raised to take responsibility for their actions-it's always going to be someone else's fault.

[RC Resident]

All that can be reported is what the CHP provides.

[Matthew]

Patches Ohoulihan wrote:

<quoted text>
Oh I see where this is going. You are insinuating that it was someone elses fault. Typical. Just for your information, Airbags typically deploy on front end collisions(that is where the impact sensors are) they weren't designed to save anyone when the vehicle flips. Clear things up, Did this drivers actions not lead to this accident???

So if this post right here causes further emotional damage to those of us who were involved, should we hold you responsable, since your actions caused us damage????? Everyone involved in the accident are trying to cope with this tragedy. And do you think you sitting on here saying how this tragedic accident is all the driver's fault, helps any of us at all? Or is your solo purpose to "feel like your right," as you said in your profile, at the expense to harm and hurt those who are already hurting ? Because all you are actually doing is upsetting those who read this, even more then we already are. So for the rest of your life i want you to know that your actions and thoughts cause damage and nothing else. Kaitlyn was a wonderful, kind hearted, loving person and we dont need insenseitive people like you commenting on anything involving her.

[Mike]

Matthew wrote:

<quoted text>
So if this post right here causes further emotional damage to those of us who were involved, should we hold you responsable, since your actions caused us damage????? Everyone involved in the accident are trying to cope with this tragedy. And do you think you sitting on here saying how this tragedic accident is all the driver's fault, helps any of us at all? Or is your solo purpose to "feel like your right," as you said in your profile, at the expense to harm and hurt those who are already hurting ? Because all you are actually doing is upsetting those who read this, even more then we already are. So for the rest of your life i want you to know that your actions and thoughts cause damage and nothing else. Kaitlyn was a wonderful, kind hearted, loving person and we dont need insenseitive people like you commenting on anything involving her.

I agree! your comments are horrible regarding this tragic loss. i have seen the driver of the accident and lets say hes traumatically devastated over the loss of Kaitlyn. Your comments only cause more pain then good. My blessings go out to all those affected by this accident.

[keri]

i also was in the van and i was taken by ambulance to the hospital. i think that if you werent there you shouldnt be opening your mouth. "patches ohoulihan" i dont know who you are but obviously you werent one of us in the car therefore your opinion shouldnt be on this. your focusing on blaming the driver. why does any of this matter? this blog is about kaitlyn. not what happened. your mind should be focused on praying for kaitlyns friends and mike and her family then on what happened. those of us in the car know, and we dont hold the driver responsible. acccidents happen.

[Patches Ohoulihan]

keri wrote:

i also was in the van and i was taken by ambulance to the hospital. i think that if you werent there you shouldnt be opening your mouth. "patches ohoulihan" i dont know who you are but obviously you werent one of us in the car therefore your opinion shouldnt be on this. your focusing on blaming the driver. why does any of this matter? this blog is about kaitlyn. not what happened. your mind should be focused on praying for kaitlyns friends and mike and her family then on what happened. those of us in the car know, and we dont hold the driver responsible. acccidents happen.

I wasn't in the car but guess what this a message board. People read news stories here and comment on them. There is no clause in the user agreement when signing up that you must be involved someway personally in the article being commented on.
My focus was never on BLAMING the driver. My focus was on taking responsibility and not blaming the van, the "faulty airbags", the school, nor the car coming in the other lane.

It sounds like we both agree, it was a senseless tragic accident.

[JUST READING]

First of all this is horrible and if everyone that was involved don't blame the driver then we shouldn't either because we were not there. I am so sorry this happened and I pray for everyone involved.
Secondly, for everyone who has responded to "Patches Ohoulihan" comments, don't waste your breath. I have seen his/her comments on other stories and they are all negative, never anything nice to say when something tragic happens to innocent people. He/she always finds the fault so he/she isn't worth it.. Go on with your recovery and don't worry about what he/she is saying...

[jmb]

kaitlyn was an amazing person. sadly she was taken from everyone too soon. In the little time that i did get to know her she was always real and honest with everyone. tragic loss.