True reminder that Halloween can be unnecessarily deadly
A little more than a year ago, I connected on Facebook with an old college friend, Joe Franco. We lost touch after school, but both went into careers at newspapers. Joe now works in communications for a cruise line.
Joe hadn't changed. He looked exactly the same, and his posts were as positive as I remembered him back at the Daily Sundial.
But, in what might have been just a few days after establishing contact, Joe posted some very sad notices, asking his friends to pray for the 19-year-old daughter of one of his buddies.
Taylor Moss was critically injured on the Ventura Freeway in Encino while driving home from a Halloween party. A wrong-way suspected drunken driver plowed into her car. Two of her friends were hurt.
Taylor Moss died.
I remember making a call or two, trying to find out anything I could about the suspected drunken driver to pass on to Joe. I made sure my colleagues at the Daily News knew about the crash. They did stories recounting this awful loss of a young woman just getting started in life.
Joe hadn't changed. He looked exactly the same, and his posts were as positive as I remembered him back at the Daily Sundial.
But, in what might have been just a few days after establishing contact, Joe posted some very sad notices, asking his friends to pray for the 19-year-old daughter of one of his buddies.Taylor Moss was critically injured on the Ventura Freeway in Encino while driving home from a Halloween party. A wrong-way suspected drunken driver plowed into her car. Two of her friends were hurt.
Taylor Moss died.
I remember making a call or two, trying to find out anything I could about the suspected drunken driver to pass on to Joe. I made sure my colleagues at the Daily News knew about the crash. They did stories recounting this awful loss of a young woman just getting started in life.
If you've read any of my previous blog posts, you'll know I think stories about drunken driving victims are the most agonizing to do. The victims are all innocent people just going about their lives when some irresponsible idiot gets in their way.
In February, Tony Castro of the Daily News did a followup about "Taylor's Army, " a number of people who regularly go to court to make sure justice is served.
Yesterday, I received an email from Maria Moss, Taylor's stepmother. I didn't realize who she was until I saw Joe's postings today on Facebook that remind everyone to not drive after drinking at Halloween parties tonight and Sunday.
Mrs. Moss wrote this:
"Monday, November 1, will be one year since a drunk driver killed my stepdaughter, Taylor Moss. Hector Ortiz was going the wrong way on the 101 freeway late Halloween night. His friend told him he was going the wrong way and his response was, "Deal with it!" And, he continued on until he killed our Taylor. PLEASE - any publicity that will make people think before getting behind the wheel drunk will be greatly appreciated."
Glad to oblige. I hope I don't have to walk in on Monday and write about another tragedy.
In February, Tony Castro of the Daily News did a followup about "Taylor's Army, " a number of people who regularly go to court to make sure justice is served.
Yesterday, I received an email from Maria Moss, Taylor's stepmother. I didn't realize who she was until I saw Joe's postings today on Facebook that remind everyone to not drive after drinking at Halloween parties tonight and Sunday.
Mrs. Moss wrote this:
"Monday, November 1, will be one year since a drunk driver killed my stepdaughter, Taylor Moss. Hector Ortiz was going the wrong way on the 101 freeway late Halloween night. His friend told him he was going the wrong way and his response was, "Deal with it!" And, he continued on until he killed our Taylor. PLEASE - any publicity that will make people think before getting behind the wheel drunk will be greatly appreciated."
Glad to oblige. I hope I don't have to walk in on Monday and write about another tragedy.
Ortiz, by the way, remains in jail a year later awaiting trial. If convicted, he'll likely go to prison for life.
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About the Blogger
Larry Altman has covered crime in the South Bay since 1990. He's seen it all - the missing model who turned up dead in the desert, the wives found dead in trunks, the high-school coaches who get a little too close to their players. He drives his young colleagues nuts with his "I remember when" stories. He welcomes your tips and observations about the present, and you can mix in a little Lakers basketball talk if you like.
E-mail Larry at larry.altman@dailybreeze.com.
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Thank you for this so very important post about drinking and driving on this holiday weekend. Who knows, you might just save a life this weekend....................
Thank You ,that message can not be repeated enough . My cousin Kyle was 12 years old when he too was killed by a drunk driver.He asked to go to a birthday party with a classmate and the father drank and drove home at tremendous speeds and ran stop lights and he crashed with a car full of children. My cousin was ejected from the car and died . Please Please don't drink and drive . Two other things always say I love you they may not come back when they walk out the door and make a contract with your children that they will call you for a ride anytime 24/7 alcohol is present no questions asked .