LANCASTER – Dozens of family members and friends came together Sunday evening to mourn the loss of three people killed in a horrific traffic crash this past Friday.
Tearful mourners lit candles, shared stories and sent prayers for 20-year-old Jocelyn “Jossy” Montes, 12-year-old Everardo Lalo Simental Jr. and 19-year-old Christopher McGlory.
Jossy was a loving mother to a 1-year-old girl and a 2-month-old boy; Junior was a happy, outgoing 12-year-old; and Christopher was a sweet, genuine guy who overcame childhood adversity to obtain his high school diploma.
“Me and you worked hard for you to graduate high school, and I’m glad that was your last accomplishment because you were pushing for it. I’m so happy that you made it,” said Christopher’s girlfriend, Kahlia White.
“I’m going to miss you, mama… Don’t worry about your kids, we’re going to take care of them,” said Jossy’s brother, Sergio Montes. “Junior was just a little kid… All of you are in heaven though, that’s what makes me feel better,” Sergio Montes added.
Jossy, Junior and Christopher were three of five people riding in a Jeep Cherokee that collided with a Dodge Ram truck Friday in the intersection of Avenue K and 25th Street West in Lancaster. The force of the crash sent the Jeep spinning out of control, and all three were ejected from the vehicle, traffic detectives said. Christopher and Junior died at the scene, and Jossy died shortly afterward at the hospital. (Read more on the triple fatal crash here).
Fundraisers set for crash victims
Family members have established an online memorial fundraiser to help with funeral expenses for Christopher McGlory. To donate to this effort, visit http://www.gofundme.com/ho9g3w.
There will be a Zumba-thon fundraiser this Wednesday, Nov. 26 to help cover funeral expenses for Jossy Montes. The Zumba event, featuring instructor Chris Aguirre, will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. at Sport Club AV, located at 1020 Commerce Center Drive in Lancaster. This event is open to the public, and a $20 donation is required to participate. There also will be a donation station in the gym’s lobby for diapers and other infant necessities for Jossy’s two young children. For more information on this fundraiser, call 661-942-9422. View a flyer for the Zumba-thon fundraiser for Jossy Montes here.
Family members have also created an online fundraising account to accept monetary donations for funeral expenses for Jocelyn Montes. To donate to this effort, visit http://www.gofundme.com/hniyj4.
There will be a fundraising car wash starting at 10 a.m. this Saturday, Nov 29, in the parking lot of Sport Club AV, located at 1020 Commerce Center Drive. Memorial t-shirts will also be on sale that day. All proceeds will go toward the funeral expenses for Jossy Montes and to support her two young children.
Editor’s note: Story revised to correct the ages of Jossy’s children. Jocelyn used both “Jossy” and “Josie” as nicknames.
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Previous related story: Triple fatal traffic crash in Lancaster
viviana says
I love you Jossy, J.R, and Chris
Dee says
It seems that the driver of the jeep (the articles don’t mention the age or name of the driver) is responsible for the lost lives of three young people, who all died way too soon. Why did you need to be driving so fast through town? It is amazing that people do not wear seat belts. Prayers to all of the families involved.
QHill says
It’s a really unfortunate situation. Nothing matters, not the faulty lights (if they indeed are faulty) or who took the red light. We’re all AV residents and should have respect for one another, specially when driving. I always slow down when coming to an intersection, even if the light is green. People always drive fast out here. I drive through that intersection on a daily basis with my 3 yr old. I can’t imagine what it would be like for something to happen to us because of an irresponsible driver. My prayers and condolences to the families who lost their loved ones.
Real One says
The name of Christopher McGlory’s girlfriend is Kahlia White not Cleo White. This article needs to be revised again.
gabby says
U shouldnt talk [removed] or be dirsrespectful keep your comments to your damm self if u have something stupid to say grow up there was lives lost be respectful I m a friend of the family and I cant believe theres people out there like u ughh
neighbor says
I live 4 doors down from this accident and I frequent this intersection. Many times we have been traveling northbound on 25th in the outermost lane. We stop at the light before turning on to Avenue K going eastbound. Many times the light on K has gone yellow and traffic begins to slow down. I ease out to make sure they are going to completely stop. Suddenly the light goes from yellow to green again for the traffic on K. My light never turns green. So in other words, if I were to ease out in to traffic assuming that they were going to stop I’d be in big trouble because their light goes from yellow to green. The light at that intersection is faulty and it wouldn’t surprise me if no one was at fault.
And really, what does it matter whose fault it was? I doubt seriously that either one of the drivers got in their vehicle that night and said “Tonight I’m going to kill someone with my car.” They call them accidents for a reason. No matter how you slice it, it’s a terrible tragedy and a sobering reminder that a vehicle can be a deadly weapon.
mrz ford says
All the city lights are faulty, I feel its the people that’s running them lights fault for all the accidents that’s been happening, Soon as u get half way turning thru the intersection it turns green for the other people to go, It don’t even turn red for us, wtf, its a set up for them to get paid
Gene Beattie says
I am glad that the problem with the lights has finally come up after all these years. My Granddaughter was in an accident years ago at 30th and J-8 and I tried to tell the insurance company about the lights so they set and watched them for several days. The results came to be, their is nothing we can do about it because the City Traffic Engineer planed it that way.
I can not believe they are still that way
Lisa Sereika says
If you are at an intersection and your making a left turn when you see a vehicle obviously going very fast you wait. I wait. If he stops ok ill go now. If he flies thru the light and the light turns red so what everyone will wait for you make your turn. You don’t turn when you see danger coming. So he is just as responsible. And your right about the seat belts. But calling ppl names at a time like this is insensitive and cruel. That “Moron” will live and suffer with this the rest of his life. I choose to pray for everyone. We can all point fingers… Bless all the families.
Just Saying says
I wonder if the truck had trouble seeing the Jeep in the #2 lane, because the view was obstructed by the cars already stopped in the #1 lane. If 2 cars had already come to a full stop, that yellow light was getting extremely ripe. Interesting that you label calling people names “insensitive”, and then call the driver that was wearing a seat belt and “not” speeding a moron.
Nancy P says
I said that very same thing and my comment was removed. hmmm. I so agree with you. Why didn’t the jeep clear the intersection before he entered? Seems like he got off very lucky not to be injured. The deaths are terrible. Prayers to the families involved.
notgonnajudge says
Actually you are quite wrong on the driving age requirements. The law states that drivers under the age of 18 can not carry passengers under the age of 20 in the vehicle for 12 months or until they turn 18. You are referencing the permit driving rules for persons under 18. It really doesn’t matter what you “see” as they are no longer here on this earth for people like you to pass judgment just by looks. This accident was a terrible reminder for all of us to see three very important things. 1. Speed kills, no matter how late you are going somewhere, it doesn’t get you there any faster by trying to beat the light especially when you die trying to do it. 2. No matter what the distance a seatbelt CAN make a difference between life or death. 3. Just because you’re in the intersection waiting to make a left, you’re better off completing that turn after the light changes red if it means that that is the only way to do so safely. It saddens my heart that these people had to die because of preventable steps, but we should all take head and live smarter and most of all NOT pass judgment on who or what they might have been. Regardless of who they were, they now have families that are trying to make sense of it all and pick up the pieces of their shattered lives.
Angell nunez says
Please if you can, donate to help lay Junior to rest
Angell nunez says
https://www.giveforward.com/fundraiser/wmn6/in-loving-memory-of-everardo-lalo-simental-jr
Mark says
That intersection should be a four way stop…
eyes wide shut says
Why? It’s controlled by a four-way signal.
Palmdaleguy says
Who ran the red-light?? The story tells of the collision but does not say which vehicle was at fault?
JJ says
Both lights turned yellow. They don’t know who’s at fault yet or they are chosing not to release that info.
AVResident says
The driver of the Jeep was speeding and passed the stopped cars who were waiting for the light to turn green in the right turn lane and crossed the intersection as the driver of the Ram was making his left turn on a yellow turn light. To me it seems the Jeep was at fault. Furthermore because the passengers were not wearing seat belts.
martin says
[removed] that its the rams fault the jeep was not [removed] speeding at all
Peter Fitznicentite says
no.. The morons in the jeep should have stopped for the yellow light and not been speeding. Oh and how about wearing seat belts. The driver ruined many people’s lives. Good job just to get somewhere in a hurry.
TERRELL Blue says
TOTALLY INSENSITIVE COMMENT.
PEOPLE ARE DEAD SHOW SSOM . RESPECT.
Dan says
Morons?
Hey buddy, I’ll be in the antelope valley this coming weekend.. i would really to to hear your comments in person.
My cousin sadly lost her life and left two children behind.
A young child lost his life. And a young man also died.
Please tell me how they deserve to be called morons.
The speed limit is to blame. Does not matter who is at fault. The av is not some low population town, it is WELL populated.
mrz ford says
That won’t make a difference, there’s always gonna be that one idiot who thinks they supposed to go first, My condolences goes out to all the people involved, It hurts me to see people get hurt and lose they’re lives, regardless who was in fault