Oscar Torres, BHS 2005
December 03, 2005, Tania Chatila, Burbank Leader
Eighteen-year-old Oscar Torres died on Thanksgiving Day from injuries sustained in a hit-and-run accident.
BURBANK -- Oscar Torres left his Burbank home on Nov. 19, 2005 with a promise to his mother to return soon.
He went to drop off his girlfriend, like he always did. But Martha Torres had a bad feeling.
"I told him to come back quick because it was late," she said. "He hugged me really tight and said, 'I'm going to be back, Mommy. I promise. And I never make a promise I don't keep.'"
About 20 minutes later, Martha Torres received a call from her son's girlfriend who was in hysterics -- Oscar Torres, 18, had been in an accident.
The Nissan 240SX he was in with a 17-year-old friend from Burbank, was hit from behind as it sat parked on Columbus Avenue, near Riverdale Drive.
Andranik Manukovich Atshemyan, 23, of Glendale, was allegedly traveling 70 to 80 mph on a 25-mph street when he hit the Nissan, crushing it.
When Martha Torres and her family arrived at Glendale Memorial Hospital, where her son was taken, doctors were pessimistic about her son's condition.
He had stopped breathing for 10 minutes, and the doctors feared he would not make it, she said.
Martha Torres immediately recalled the promise her son had made to her.
"I grabbed him and I said, 'Oscar! Oscar! You promised me! You promised me you were going to come back, remember?'" she said.
At that moment, Oscar Torres sustained a heart beat.
The 18-year-old held on until Thanksgiving Day.
"I was hoping he was going to recover," his father, Juan Torres, said. "I told God to give me a miracle. But I think he was dead the first day he got impacted by the car." Juan Torres is confident his son is in Heaven. "God always takes the good ones," he said. And he was a good one, Martha Torres said.
"He was the kind of son that was all checking in and out," she said. "And he could have any friend. It could be a little baby, or a teenager, or a senior."
Oscar Torres went to Burbank High School his freshmen, sophomore and junior years, and moved to Monterey High School his senior year. He graduated in June. He was enrolled in Glendale Community College and was taking classes to be an insurance agent, which were paid for by his employer, Steven Segal Insurance. "We had him just around here for a short period of time, but he would have been the type of person we would have loved to have around here for years," Steven Segal said. "He was just a good kid, a good human being. His presence is missed here."
It has been difficult for the Torres family, including his three brothers, who are 10, 13 and 21, respectively. But friends and family have supported them since the accident, visiting the home everyday. "His room in the hospital was full," Martha Torres said, of the time her son spent at Glendale Memorial Hospital and then Kaiser Permanente in Panorama City.
Now, a vigil has been set up at the curb where the accident happened that emphasizes the impact Oscar Torres' death has had on those who knew him.
Since his death, Atshemyan, who allegedly fled the accident scene, has been found.
He faces one count of murder and one felony count of leaving the scene of an accident.
Note: If Oscar had stayed at BHS he would of graduated with the class of 2005.
Showing posts with label BHS 2005. Show all posts
Showing posts with label BHS 2005. Show all posts
Friday, May 6, 2011
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Kevin Lynn Butcher, BHS 2005
L.A. Weekly, April 2011
Kevin Butcher, 23-Year-Old Burbank Man on Motorcycle, Killed in I-10 Crash With Another (Allegedly Drunk) Man on Motorcycle
Kevin Butcher was riding his red Ducati motorcycle down the 10 East yesterday afternoon, when traffic began to slow up ahead.
He was riding behind another motorcyclist on a white Honda at the time -- a 29-year-old man from North Hollywood who West L.A. CHP Officer Travis Ruiz guesses was Butcher's friend. Both were reportedly "splitting lanes" while pushing 90 mph. Then, just before 4:30 p.m. near the exit of the 405, the Acura in front of them put on the brakes. Though the Honda began to brake as well, Butcher did not -- so his motorcycle slammed into the one in front of him. "The Honda that got run into went down on the ground and went down underneath the Acura," says Ruiz. "Then the Ducati goes up over the Acura."
Butcher was found unconscious at the scene, and later pronounced dead at the UCLA Medical Center. The North Hollywood man was transported to the hospital as well -- but not before failing a field sobriety test and being handcuffed to his stretcher. Ruiz says the 29-year-old was in fine enough condition to take the test at the scene, but soon noticed a huge gash in his own leg. No other injuries were reported.
On Facebook, Butcher lists his hometown and current residence as Burbank. He's a fan of Da Bike Shop, a motorcycle customization and repair shop in North Hollywood. One Los Angeles Times commenter writes, "Rest in peace lil butcher." And another: "Kevin Lynn Butcher you will be missed."
A commenter named Richard also offers a witness account: "We were driving back from PCH and saw 2 bikes zipping between traffic lanes. A minute later all the traffic slowed and we saw the 2 downed bikes and several stopped cars. One rider was on the ground as another person pumped his chest. It was a sobering reminder about the dangers of riding between cars, especially on the 10 by the 405 intersection."
Schools attended: Burbank High School, Glendale Community College, California State University at Northridge Awards: Varsity Letter in Track & Field for Pole Vaulting, Burbank High School, 100+ Hours Burbank Community Service Medallion, Burbank School District Service-Learning Award (worn at graduation), Eagle Scout - earning 42 Badges where a minimum of only 20 is required.
Organizations: National Eagle Scout Association, Member Occupation: Teller, J. P. Morgan Chase Bank - Burbank/ San Fernando Branch Kevin was an avid motorcycle rider, having learned to ride on his father's classic 1974 Suzuki 250 - street legal dirt bike. Some years later he purchased his own Suzuki GSX-R600, followed by his most recent bike, a Ducati M900S4. He loved riding this bike with his many friends; yet unfortunately, it was while riding this bike that he lost his life.
He was laid to rest on Saturday, April 16, 2011 - in God's Acre, next to the Old North Church at Forest Lawn - Hollywood Hills, with more than 300 loving friends and relatives in attendance.
He is survived by his mother and father, Glenda and Steven, and his two older brothers, Steven Jr. (wife Lindsey) and Christopher (daughter Eden). He will be missed and never forgotten by many. Donations may be made to the Boys Scouts of America Troop 209, by contacting Scoutmaster Jim Roope at (818) 846-6589 - www. troop209.org
Published in Los Angeles Daily News from May 7 to May 8, 2011
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