Forever 16 — New Voodou

Two teenage boys stepped out of the old Sears repair van to survey the surf along the Rincon. It was the first Saturday of spring, March 23, and the conditions couldn't have been better — 70-degree temps and an offshore wind. In high spirits with their surfboards in the back of the van, they had first gone to Surfer's Point in Ventura, before deciding to head north toward Santa Barbara. There were a number of great surf spots up the coast where they would find the perfect waves for a perfect day.

Jimmy and Eric had been on again, off again best friends since second grade. They were currently in close friend mode, drawn together by their shared passion for surfing. On weekend mornings they would take off early searching for the best waves. Maybe at the Jetties south of the marina or Ventura County Line or as on this Saturday somewhere along the Rincon. Eric would take his camera and Jimmy a sketch pad. There would likely be a photo or drawing to capture a scene or two.

About 11 am they decided to stop for food. They had the voracious appetites of 16-year-old boys and were always hungry. The little grocery in La Conchita would have something they could devour as they continued their adventure. The day was shaping up exactly as planned.

Shortly after 11, a northbound Southern Pacific passenger train, the Daylight, was headed to San Francisco via Santa Barbara. The regularly scheduled run took a tragic turn when it stuck the boy's van at the La Conchita crossing. The train, travelling at 50 miles an hour, rammed the van into a piece of heavy railroad equipment throwing both boys from the vehicle. Eric was killed instantly; Jimmy was announced dead on arrival at Ventura County General Hospital at 11:45 am.

Eyewitnesses reported that the warning signals were operating at the time of the crash however there was no warning gate. The engineer told first responders that he saw the van but could not stop the fast-moving train in time to avert the crash..

Why were they on the tracks? Why didn't they jump out of the van to escape the oncoming train? Why hadn't they arrived just a few minutes earlier or later? Why?

It was a heartbreakingly sad funeral Mass. They were handsome, popular high school boys and Our Lady of the Assumption Church was filled with weeping teenage girls, somber -faced teenage boys and devastated families. Twelve young friends, fighting back tears, served as pallbearers.

I helped my father select my brother Jimmy's casket and buy a plot at Ivy Lawn Cemetery, where the two friends are buried side-by-side. Forever 16.