One local family's weeklong journey turned from hope to heartbreak Sunday when their teenaged son's injuries from a pickup accident proved fatal. Derek Elizondo, 14, was riding in the bed of a pickup last Monday with seven other teens when it flipped over near R. L. Turner High School on its way to the field house for sports practice. The young teen was one of six riding in the back of the truck despite a state law that forbids anyone under 18 to ride in the bed of the truck on a public street. His parents said they thought he would slowly recover from the serious brain injury he endured after the accident. However, his family mourned his death Monday. Derek's father, Art Elizondo, said he will deeply miss his son. "Derek was daddy's boy," he said. "Yeah he was, so therefore I know I will have a tough time adjusting. But, I believe with God's grace I'll...be ok." Carrollton police have charged Danny Joe Williams, 17, with second degree felonies, which include one count of manslaughter and three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. But the young boy's parents said they are not concerned with focusing on that during this time. "Right now, I think we're just more trying to take care of our baby and let our baby rest," said Marie Simpson, Elizondo's mother. "And you know, the answers will come in time." Dozens of R.L. Turner High School students gathered Friday night for a candlelight vigil. "He touched many people and touched their hearts," Simpson said. "[I] know I can say that I am very proud to have been his dad, and still am," Elizondo said.

Teen suffers brain injury from pickup overturn
09:07 PM CST on Tuesday, December 13, 2005
By BRAD WATSON / WFAA-TV

WFAA-TV Derek Elizondo
A Farmers Branch family has begun a bedside vigil for their teenage son who suffered a severe brain injury in a pickup truck accident Monday outside R. L. Turner High School.
Eight R. L. Turner High School students were on their way down Cox Street in Carrollton for wrestling and off-season football workouts at the field house when the truck flipped with six students in its bed.
Art Elizondo and Marie Simpson endured a long sleepless night while their son Derek went through surgery. Their wait for his recovery continued into Tuesday.
 

Student remains hospitalized after truck overturns

"He's going to pull out," Elizondo said. "He's going to pull out. God's going to take good care of him."
The parents said he is in critical condition with swelling of the brain and his recuperation could take up to a year.
"He's a strong kid," Simpson said. "He's a fighter. He's healthy, so he's going to come out of it one day at a time."
Derek was among six who rode in the truck's bed, despite state law that says no one under 18 can ride in the bed on a public street, and flew out as it overturned.
The students were heading from the high school to the field house, which was a few blocks away.
The school district said students without vehicles are told to walk, but one student said students pick up rides frequently.
"Yeah, they usually do it...but they're like going slow," said Nixon Portillo, a freshman at R.L. Turner High School.
R.L. Turner High School athletes who do drive to practice are being told by the school to obey traffic laws or face discipline.
"We just always remind them just how careful you have to be," said Bobby Burns, Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District.
Carrollton police said they are still investigating, and charges against the student driver who they said was speeding are still possible.
 

Former student in coma after accident

The R.L. Turner High School football players and wrestlers were headed to the field house, which is blocks from the school campus.
Police said the 17-year-old driver lost control because of speed.
"He was swerving like that and hit a curb I guess," Rangel said. "And klunk, like that and the car tilted and we all fell out of the car."
Rangel said he believes the driver was swerving for fun. However, what bus driver Tommy Burns said he saw from the sidewalk wasn't fun.
"Just flipping, everything [was] just flipping," he said. "[I saw] kids in my vision, in my face and everywhere."
Under state law, no one under 18 can ride in the back of a truck on a public street.
Rangel's mother said after her fear dissolved to relief, she set her son straight.
"I had no idea he was riding in the back of a pickup," said Misty Rangel. "But he will not be doing that again."
Carrollton police and the school district are continuing their investigation.
WFAA-TV reporters Mary Ann Razzuk and Brad Watson contributed to this story.
 

Teen dies, 4 hurt in fiery crash - Flower Mound: Pickup jumped curb and hit tree, killing 14-year-old
Dallas Morning News, The (TX) - Friday, December 30, 2005
Author: BRANDON FORMBY, Staff Writer

A 14-year-old Flower Mound boy was killed and four other teenagers were injured early Thursday after the pickup they were riding in jumped a curb, struck a tree and burst into flames.

Drake Buchanan was trapped inside the 1994 Ford Ranger and died at the scene. Three teens were taken by helicopter to Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas. Another was taken by ambulance.

Flower Mound officials said two 14-year-old girls in the wreck were listed in stable condition Thursday. A 14-year-old boy and 15-year-old boy were listed in critical condition. Officials did not release the names of the injured teens.

Drake's family declined to comment, as did the families of the injured teens.

Michael Ryan, a spokesman for the town of Flower Mound, said police are investigating the cause of the crash, which happened about 3:10 a.m. in the 3700 block of Flower Mound Road in front of a neighborhood athletic center.

Mr. Ryan said Drake was the only person still in the truck when rescue crews arrived. The truck was engulfed in flames by then, he said. It was not clear who the driver was or whether the driver had a license, he said.

Texas typically licenses people who are 16 or older, though in some cases 15-year-olds are given hardship licenses.

The teens were out past the town's curfew, which is 11 p.m. on weekdays.

The accident site became a memorial Thursday afternoon, with flowers and a cross made out of skateboard decks. Two young girls who declined to talk to the media cried and hugged each other as they looked at the site.

Many passers-by stopped to survey the scene. Some residents who didn't know the teens brought their children to the site to teach them how deadly cars can be.

The tree that was struck was burned and scraped. Debris, some of it severely burned, was scattered across the site.

No skid marks were visible on the road where the truck jumped the curb.

This is the area's second deadly accident this month involving teens in pickups.

Derek Elizondo, 14, was killed when the pickup he was riding in flipped and ejected him from the bed Dec. 12 near Turner High School in Carrollton. Six others were injured. The teen driver faces charges of manslaughter and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Kimberly Durnan of DallasNews.com contributed to this report.

 

OBITUARY

ELIZONDO , DEREK 14 of Farmers Branch, TX. Our belo
Dallas Morning News, The (TX) - December 21, 2005
ELIZONDO , DEREK 14 of Farmers Branch, TX. Our beloved son is in the arms of his Savior Jesus Christ. Derek went to be with the Lord Sunday night. He was a student at R. L. Turner High School. Derek was an avid sportsman. His smile and his love for people will be greatly missed. He is survived by his beloved parents Arthur Elizondo and Marie Simpson; brothers Jeff, Phillip, Tim and John; grandparents Tina and Danny Mendoza, Kitty Wolverton, Gene Wolverton and Sherry Wolverton; aunts Jessica, Renee, Joeann, and Jessie; uncles Richie and Adam; numerous cousins and a huge host of friends. The family will receive friends for a public viewing Thursday, December 22, 2005 between the hours of 6 & 8PM at Christian Center Assembly of God Church in the main sanctuary, 13505 Josey Ln., Farmers Branch, TX. A Celebration of Derek's Life will be Friday, December 23, 2005 at 1PM with Pastor John English and Pastor Danny Mendoza officiating. There will be a procession to Calvary Hill Cemetery where Derek will be laid to rest. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to North Dallas Funeral Home for Derek's funeral. , "John P Brooks and Family North Dallas Funeral Home 2710 Valley View Lane Dallas, TX

The Dallas Morning News - December 21, 2005