Published November 14, 2009 12:41 am - Survivors of a van crash on an icy Oregon freeway that killed two young people from Colorado and left two others critically injured say they are trying to come to grips with their loss.
Survivor says fatal Ore. van crash like ‘dream’ Geneva teen listed in serious condition
Associated Press
BAKER CITY, Ore. — Survivors of a van crash on an icy Oregon freeway that killed two young people from Colorado and left two others critically injured say they are trying to come to grips with their loss.
“I still keep waiting for this to be a dream,” Sarah DeVries, 18, told The Baker City Herald.
“I’m still waiting for Taune and Josh to walk through that door,” she said.
Joshua John Pischura, 20, and Taune Nicole Winter Pepper, 23, both died in the Thursday morning crash on Interstate 84 near Baker City.
They were among 16 young men and women from the New Life Worship Center in Federal Heights, Colo., traveling to Portland when their van slid on black ice and rolled several times, ejecting most of them.
Pischura, from Geneva died shortly after the accident while Pepper, from Deer Trail, Colo., died later Thursday at Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise, Idaho.
Listed in critical condition Friday at Saint Alphonsus were Aaron Stearling Werntz, 19, of Freeport, Ill., and Phillip Joel Harris, 24, from Attalla, Ala.
Lt. Gregg Hastings of the Oregon State Police said Friday it may be several weeks before investigators complete their report on the crash.
The van appeared to be at full capacity with 15 passengers and the driver, but the investigation must be completed to determine how many aboard were wearing seat belts, Hastings said.
The Colorado church group was headed to a business convention in Portland where they planned to work for 10 days to raise money to support their ministry in a Denver suburb.
“It was just routine for us — we travel all over the country to work these trade shows,” Nicole Byrd, 25, told the Baker City Herald.
Byrd was driving the van. She and the 15 passengers belong to the Rocky Mountain Masters Commission, a training program affiliated with the New Life Worship Center.
During the nine-month program, students learn about leadership skills and provide free programs for community youth, including dance, music and sports.
“All we do is love on them,” Byrd said. “It’s a community in need of people to love them. We came from our hometowns to make a difference in the lives of these kids and their families.”
By working at trade shows and conventions, the students earn enough money to cover the cost of the community programs, plus tuition and housing.
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