Third teen in wreck dies

Fourth still in hospital after crash in Arvada; child given boy's heart

John C. Ensslin, Rocky Mountain News

Published September 10, 2007 at midnight

Text size

More Local News

More stories »

ARVADA - Danny Losasso was talking about three weeks ago to a relative who told him she would be reluctant to donate her organs when she died.

"That's selfish," the 17-year-old replied. "I would give them everything I had."

That's exactly what happened Sunday, after Losasso became the third teenager to die of injuries suffered in a two-vehicle crash that happened just after midnight Saturday at West 62nd Avenue and Ward Road.

Doctors had kept Losasso on life support until his organs could be recovered. His heart went to an 11-year-old girl, said a relative, who spoke on the condition she not be identified.

Also killed in the accident were Kayla DeMars and Angelina Ford, both 17 and residents of Arvada. DeMars died at the scene; Ford was declared dead at St. Anthony Central Hospital.

A fourth teenager, driver of the car carrying the other three, remains hospitalized at Saint Anthony. His condition is unknown.

Police continue to investigate the accident, which occurred when a Mercury Sable driven west on 62nd was broadsided on the passenger side by a 40-foot refrigerated delivery truck headed south on Ward.

Police are not sure if the driver of the car, whose name they withheld, failed to see a stop sign or just drove past it. They are also investigating whether drugs or alcohol were a factor in the crash.

Kayla DeMars had met the other teens when she was at Arvada West High School and remained friends after she had transferred to an alternative high school, said her mother, Melanie Sealy.

"The circle of friends she had wasn't very big, but they were tight," Sealy said.

She said her daughter was good about letting her know where she was staying. On the night of the accident, she had been at Ford's home watching a movie.

Sealy had given her daughter permission to sleep over because her friend was going away on a trip on Monday, she said. She was surprised, however, that they had gone out so late.

Sealy and her husband, Russell, sat in their living room Sunday next to a collection of snapshots taken of her daughter.

One picture shows Kayla holding a spider in the palm of her hand. In another, she is holding a snake. They were typical images of a teenager who, from an early age, had taken an interest in herpetology, a branch of zoology having to do with reptiles and amphibians.

"She could name any insect there was. She wasn't afraid of anything," her mom said, recalling her daughter's excitement at finding a snake or praying mantis in the woods around their home.

At home, Kayla kept two tiny tropical lizards that would change color. Her mom remembered how once, out of concern that they were too cold, she gave them a warm bath.

"She said when they were green, they're happy," Sealy said.

Kayla was equally protective of her friends, said her stepfather, Russell Sealy.

"She had an innocence about her but a very wise soul," he said.

On a small blue bench near the intersection where the accident occurred, family and friends had piled flowers, teddy bears and a photograph as an impromptu memorial to those killed.

"Our baby. Our Daughter. We love you," said one sign with a photo of Kayla.

Nearby, Jessica Hosler, 18, of Arvada, hugged her friend Ron Bogs, 19, of Lakewood. They knew all of the victims through Losasso.

"Danny was one of those kids with so much spirit in him that he brought you up when you were down," Hosler said. "He never hesitated to say, 'I love you,' no matter how long he had known you."

Lynn Setzer, a spokeswoman for Jefferson County Schools, said the district planned to have a crisis team in place at Arvada West High School today and counselors for students to talk with about the tragedy.

ensslinj@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5291

Subscribe to the Rocky Mountain News