Tragic crash takes a life, injures two

2010-06-17 / Front Page

BY JILL BALLINGER GAZETTE EDITOR

THIS VIOLENT COLLISION ON HIGHWAY 49 SOUTH NEAR MCNALLY ROAD LAST SATURDAY CLAIMED THE LIFE OF 21-YEAR-OLD REBEKA CRAIG OF MARIPOSA. HER PASSENGER, WADE EASLER, WAS ALSO INJURED AND REMAINS HOSPITALIZED. THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE, A 17-YEAR-OLD JUVENILE OF MARIPOSA WAS ALSO SERIOUSLY INJURED AND IS STILL IN THE HOSPITAL, AS WELL. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO CONTRIBUTED PHOTO The stretch of Highway 49 South between Bootjack and McNally Road has once again proven deadly. For the second time in the last month, a head-on collision has claimed the life of one person and injured two others, both seriously.

On Saturday afternoon, June 12, a 17-year-old juvenile of Mariposa was headed toward town, on his way to the high school allstar baseball game. For reasons the California Highway Patrol has yet to determine, the juvenile's 2001 Suburban drifted into the southbound lane, striking the 2006 Nissan pick-up driven by 21-year-old Rebeka Craig, also of Mariposa.

The violent impact of the two vehicles driving at 55 miles per hour killed Craig. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Her fiance, 24- year-old Wade Eric Easler of Mariposa, was also seriously injured. He was flown to Doctors’ Medical Center in Modesto for treatment of his injuries. On Wednesday morning, Easler was listed in good condition at the hospital. Details of his injuries were not provided.

The juvenile's injuries were also extreme. He was taken by air ambulance to Memorial Hospital in Modesto for treatment of a broken ankle, back and head injuries. According to his family, he has since been moved out of intensive care and was underwent surgery on is ankle on Tuesday night. The surgery was reportedly successful.

A third vehicle, driven by 53-year-old Christy Costa of Mariposa, was also involved in the crash. The CHP report says that Costa was driving behind the juvenile when the crash happened and was hit when Leonard’s vehicle spun into her’s following the impact. Costa was not injured.

The California Highway Patrol says the investigation into the crash is ongoing. There was no alcohol involved in the accident, and all parties were wearing seatbelts.

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I appreciate the coverage the

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 2010-06-30 00:50.

I appreciate the coverage the Gazette provides, but I have to agree with other commentors. I find the Gazette's use of graphic accident and family/friends in anguish photos to be without taste. I think it proper the editors recieve this comment and consider a new course in journalism...one away from hurting the community you serve.

Whats happend has already

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 2010-06-21 15:57.

Whats happend has already happened. Being hateful toward the paper is not going to change the out come. And being that there is not very mmany local news papers I fiind it hard to believe that you will never purchase it again. Greif is hard, but we all need to be strong and not take it out on everyone else/.

I agree that the Gazette

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 2010-06-21 10:42.

I agree that the Gazette should rethink the car accident photos, especially when there is a fatality. Media or not, this is a small town where everybody knows everbody and it is disrespectful and very painful for the family. I lost someone in a car accident and I was so grateful that the Gazette was unable to get a photo of it. I never wanted to see the truck. Does the Gazette really think the public wants to see those? Whether or not they are doing something wrong, perhaps the Gazette could show a little compassion to it's friends and neighbors in this small town. Print the story, skip the picture.

Ok, sorry but whoever

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 2010-06-19 00:07.

Ok, sorry but whoever commented before this...this Newspaper is not sick. I think you're being a little over-dramatic. I realize that Becky's Mother and Wade have to see this picture on this issue of the Gazette but they are the Media. They are allowed to post whatever they want. With or without your approval. They weren't envading anyone's privacy or doing anything wrong. They did their job. Would it have been any different if Becky was laid to rest and they still posted this picture? No it wouldn't.

Did you know Becky? If this

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 2010-06-20 20:33.

Did you know Becky? If this was your only daughter or your fiance and you had to come home that day from the hospital to see this you would not be upset with the publishing paper? To see directly how little 100 pound Becky was crushed fataly. YES YOU WOULD BE! The Gazette could have used some tact and run pictures of the people involved from their yearbook picture(they all went tot school here) but no they have to add to the families grief during this time. I think they suck and will not read their publishment any longer. Signed loving friend of Becky!

I wrote the Gazette was sick.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 2010-06-20 20:08.

I wrote the Gazette was sick. This has nothing to do with you so I don't care what you think. I know they have a job and I stated that in my first letter, but they could have used a better picture! Why don't you TRY and put yourself him the familys shoes.

The Gazette should be ashamed

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 2010-06-18 21:07.

The Gazette should be ashamed of it's self...... In the whole story you refer to the vehicle involved as belonging to the juvenile but at the very end you give the juvenile's last name as being Leonard... Also have you no respect for the falimy of the deceased.... It's one thing to place a picture from afar but just as you did with the death of my fiance back in 2003 placing a picture of the wrecked cars on the front page adds SO MUCH pain and hurt to what is all ready there...SHAME ON YOU GAZETTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

They did the same o me when

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 2010-06-20 18:51.

They did the same o me when my husband died in 2003, he committed suicide which was something I did not want my then 5 yr old son and 9 year old daughter to know. But since it was front page EVERYONE knew. I have always noticed since then that if there is tragedy there an upclose picture of the accident, family members greiving or invasion of privacy. I will not buy the gazette as my 75 cents should not be used to pay for their trash and I havent bought one in years

Your newspaper is sick! Wade

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 2010-06-17 20:57.

Your newspaper is sick! Wade is my family and you put that picture on the front page before Becky has even been laid to rest! You are sick people who have no respect! I understand your need to report a story but come on. Beckys mother Jill has to see that picture in every news stand in mariposa. Put yourself in the mother and husband to be (wade) shoes. I will never bye a newspaper from you again. I promise that!

Tragic crash takes a life, injures two

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