Sheridan teen killed in crash

A Sheridan teenager was killed April 6 when the vehicle he was riding went off the road and collided with a tree in rural Lincoln.Pedro Guzman Jr., 17, received severe injuries to his chest and abdomen and succumbed to his injuries at Sutter Roseville Medical Center shortly after midnight, said Kelly Baraga, spokesperson for the California Highway Patrol's Newcastle office. He was not wearing a seatbelt.Two other occupants of the 2000 GMC Yukon were injured and taken to Sutter Roseville.The driver of the Yukon, unidentified by the CHP because he's a minor, yet identified by friends as Brad Stark, 17, of Lincoln, was partially ejected but still trapped within the vehicle and was extricated by emergency personnel. He sustained major injuries including a broken neck. He also was not wearing a seat belt.According to Sutter Roseville, Stark was released from the hospital Saturday.Meghan Zygalinski, 19, of Lincoln was in the back seat of the vehicle and extricated herself from the Yukon after the wreck, Baraga noted. She was wearing a seat belt and received cuts, scrapes and other visible injuries. She was transported to Sutter Roseville for evaluation and released.According to investigating CHP officer Patrick Cooney, a 17-year-old was driving on Virginiatown Road near Sago Lane, east of Hungry Hollow about 11:20 p.m. April 6 when he lost control of his vehicle. Cooney said the driver failed to negotiate a curve in the roadway, went down an embankment and collided with a tree.Several services for Guzman were planned this week, including a memorial at Foothill Bible Church on Monday. Marla Trimble, a friend of the family, said 180 people attended the event, including 40 of Guzman's cousins.A slide show Monday helped celebrate Guzman's life. Lincoln High School football coach Anthony Flores presented a moving tribute, Trimble added.Rosary was said Tuesday night and Mass was celebrated Wednesday. Guzman was buried in Olivehurst Cemetery on Wednesday and a second program celebrating Guzman's life was held at Sheridan Elementary School on Wednesday.Guzman, whose nickname was "TaTa," was very dedicated to his family, Trimble said. He is survived by his parents, Pedro Sr. and Naillive Guzman, and three older siblings: Jesenia, Maria and Joey.Trimble noted the Guzman family regularly went to Mexico at Christmas for two weeks, staying in a house on the beach. In fact, Guzman had plans to go to Mexico with friends during spring break and stay at an aunt's home. Guzman's aunt, Mireya Guzman, said Guzman loved to go camping. Every Labor Day, Memorial Day and Fourth of July holiday, the family would go camping at Fort Bragg. He also loved Bodega Bay, Mireya said.Guzman worked part-time for his uncle, Gavino, a landscape contractor. Mireya noted Guzman liked snowboarding, wakeboarding and skating. He also enjoyed working out."His hobby was girls, girls, girls," Mireya said. "He was very popular with the girls."Trimble added Guzman was something of a Casanova, because of his popularity with the girls. "He was the best, he was perfect," Jesenia said of her brother through Trimble. "God was jealous that we had him here so He decided He needed him."Mireya relayed that Maria said her brother was her best friend who lived life to the fullest. Guzman was active in FFA at Lincoln High and the high school farm, Trimble said. He played football at Lincoln High last year. In February, he left LHS and enrolled in an independent study program through Horizon Instructional System."He was loving, full-spirited and full of life," Jesenia said. "He was always happy. He never had a frown on his face. Everybody loved TaTa."It appears that alcohol and speed played a major factor in this collision, Baraga noted. The lack of seat belts contributed to the severity of the injuries and untimely death of Guzman.It will be up to the district attorney's office whether or not to file charges against the driver, Baraga said. Typically in the case of a fatal accident, it can take as long as one month before the investigation is completed and turned over to the DA.Baraga said Monday that the district attorney's office already had inquired into the accident.The investigating officer might recommend filing charges of felony vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence against the driver, because there was alcohol on board and he was traveling at a high rate of speed, Baraga said. Felony DUI charges also could be filed.The accident happened right in front of Craig Loberg's residence. Loberg admitted vehicles speed on that section of road all the time."It's unfortunate what happened," Loberg said, adding the collision might be a wake-up call to motorists to slow down on that section of road."But I really don't think so," he added, noting drivers most likely will continue to speed on Virginiatown Road regardless. An account has been set up at the Bank of America to help the Guzman family. Memorial donations may be made to the Lincoln Bank of America, account No. 0882741423.