School mourns popular Palos Verdes High student

I doubt if anyone at the high school cares at all about the other injured people. If you read the postings so far the smallest minority care at all if people going about their everyday lives could be permanently maimed or cripled.

If these victims are self employed they could lose their businesses and homes a long time before the legal process has extracted any reparations for the families involved.

I accept the premise that the boy was a good person, does anyone care enough about the others to find out their status? Maybe do that instead of building a roadside memorial or creating a corvette repair fund.

rpv resident wrote:

rest in peace andrew. people just talk all that crap because they know they can hide behind their computer. everyone makes mistakes but some pay more dearly for them. to all the crap talking posters, you are far from perfect and just because you havent paid as harshly as andrew and his parents for their mistakes doesnt mean you are on a higher level than them. rip.

Now you know how I feel when people start bashing my race. Computer cowards. If you knew the kid then live your life knowing everyday is a gift. Think ahead, but also take time to live in the moment. He paid the ultimate price while driving but left memories behind that will last forever. He made his parents proud and he touched plenty of peoples lives. Honor his memory and let his parents know that you are a true friend and will be there for them as well.

CBT wrote:

I wonder how all of you (who are passing such harsh judgement) would feel if it were YOUR OWN son or daughter who just died in such a tragic accident and head to read all these seething comments?
None of you have any right to pass judgement on this young man or his family. YES, it was a senseless death, YES it was an unfortunate accident, and YES he was going too fast (which, by the way, could have happened in ANY kind of car). But none of that gives ANY of you to be so righteous. Only God can make that judgement. I pray for his family, friends, and the other passengers involved in the other cars.

What if it were YOUR own son or daughter, Mom or Dad that Mr. Sakura rammed into with his car? How would you feel then?

Native SOl wrote:

<quoted text>
Now you know how I feel when people start bashing my race. Computer cowards. If you knew the kid then live your life knowing everyday is a gift. Think ahead, but also take time to live in the moment. He paid the ultimate price while driving but left memories behind that will last forever. He made his parents proud and he touched plenty of peoples lives. Honor his memory and let his parents know that you are a true friend and will be there for them as well.

What about the people he hit? Didn't they make their parents proud, and touched plenty of people's lives as well? The door swings both way, you know.

My friend's daughter went to school with Andrew. They were in a few of the same classes. Just a few hours before this tragic accident, she was pulled over for speeding, and given a ticket. The second ticket for speeding in 5 months. I imagine she is how I was at that age: driving was freedom. This accident has hit her hard. The irony of getting busted for speeding on the same day that Andrew died. For her, this is the first friend her age that has passed away. It's like that for many of the kids at PV High. Sometimes, unfortunately, it takes something this tragic to hit home. I'm sure many of the driving age kids will slow down. But I know that for the kids yet to drive, this moment will fade in their memories until something like this happens again.

Thoughts and prayers to all families whom this tragedy touches.

Vindictive One, if you read my prior post, you'll see my comment regarding another injured person.

I asked the investigating detective for that information precisely because so many people ARE concerned about the others involved. However, because of that person's privacy rights, I wasn't provided much information, and don't feel comfortable posting what I was told. However, please be assured that Andrew's parents, we, and the entire community are concerned about ALL of the victims of this accident.

For those of you who have posted your sympathy, thank you. For the rest of you, get a life.

My heartfelt sympathy goes out to the Sakura family...and to everyone involved in this tragic
accident.

vindictive one wrote:

I doubt if anyone at the high school cares at all about the other injured people. If you read the postings so far the smallest minority care at all if people going about their everyday lives could be permanently maimed or cripled.
If these victims are self employed they could lose their businesses and homes a long time before the legal process has extracted any reparations for the families involved.
I accept the premise that the boy was a good person, does anyone care enough about the others to find out their status? Maybe do that instead of building a roadside memorial or creating a corvette repair fund.

I think the whole point is...compassion for ALL involved. I dont' think anyone cares one way or the other about repairing a corvette.

Bubbles,

You sure like to bash the South Bay a LOT! You get kicked out or somethin?

I knew Andrew since he was in elementary school as well as his parents. He was a great young man who loved and lived life to the fullest. I spoke to his mom this A.M. and both parents are filled with unbearable grief and guilt. They devoted their life to Andrew and shared in all of the joys and concerns all parents endure with their children. Andrew's passing has left an irrepairable hole in their hearts. If you do not have kind words to share; please say nothing at all. Unless and until such a tragic event occurs in your life; you have no idea how painful this time is for all involved.

Driving too fast but it still is sad. There's a funeral today I think for a kid who died an even more senseless death that it seems he did nothing to deserve but it all is still sad.

injured girlfriends mom wrote:

Vindictive One, if you read my prior post, you'll see my comment regarding another injured person.
I asked the investigating detective for that information precisely because so many people ARE concerned about the others involved. However, because of that person's privacy rights, I wasn't provided much information, and don't feel comfortable posting what I was told. However, please be assured that Andrew's parents, we, and the entire community are concerned about ALL of the victims of this accident.
For those of you who have posted your sympathy, thank you. For the rest of you, get a life.

I was aware of your concern for the others. You are a responsible and caring adult and I respect what you have done.
I worded my comment the way I did only because so many of the posts excluded concerns about the fates of the non students. Nor are you a student at the high school.

It would be nice to read about students having a memorial for the boy, it would be even more rare to read about a concerted effort to make sure the others were taken care of also. A more inclusive approach to compassion was my goal.

i can't believe what some people have said about this. yesterday was HELL at school, and you're sitting there telling us that we don't care? i'm pretty sure if there was more information released about the other people in the accident, then it would have been said. everyone who was close to andrew already has enough to deal with for right now. and yes, we all are probably more concerned about what happened to andrew because first of all, we ALL knew him. everyone. second of all, we aren't really used to this kind of thing at our school, so it's a big deal when it happens. and last, but definitely not least, he's not here with us anymore. so please, if you have anything else to say that deep down you know isn't appropriate to say at this time, keep it to yourself.

From how I read the story, it takes a certain amount of strength, guilt, and responsibility to admit your teenage son was speeding and going "way too fast." What a sad story for everyone. Yes, as others have said, teenage years are filled with things adults think twice about doing, but many of us have been there, done that. I know I went way too fast when I was about 20 years old.

Vindictive one, the accident was Saturday night, and Andrew passed shortly before midnight. Sunday night the students hosted a memorial (not planned by Andrew's parents) at the soccer field and there was another last night. I'm told they will have memorials all week. I'm sure my daughter will attend if she is physically able.

As I mentioned, the students have been incredibly compassionate, waiting with the parents during the surgery. One student visited my daughter at 3 a.m. when she was still in the emergency room, and there has been a flood of students coming to the hospital to visit her, even though the hospital (a major trauma center) is not particularly nearby. We are grateful for the support of the entire community, and particularly of her friends.

As far as taking care of the other victims of the accident, all I can say is that we received a call from the family's insurance company yesterday (the first business day after the accident), and until our other children passed on the message, I didn't know who the insurer was. I can only assume that Andrew's parents called in the accident immediately precisely out of concern for the injured.

The Daily Breeze story, while a nice memorial for Andrew, is only a human interest story and doesn't necessarily answer all the questions people have about the details. Please know that Andrew genuinely was a concerned, compassionate young man, and his friends are concerned, involved and compassionate, as well.

Thank you for your note.

To the readers:

I'm glad this can follow DMR's comment.

I wanted to add a quote that Andrew's father made during our interview yesterday. I, for whatever reason, didn't use it in the article. Perhaps if I had, some of the comments here would not be so critical. He said he knows he made a mistake that he will live with forever.

During the interview, Dr. Sakura said:“Dad feels guilty about letting him drive a Corvette. He just seemed like he was doing so well. I've driven with him. It was a mistake.”

Additionally, no other information was released about the other motorists.

Larry Altman

r.i.p

as a mother waiting in the hospital parking lot that night ,waiting for the results of his surgery.my son came out to tell me that his friend past away.my son was was in shock that his friend was gone. i also lost my highschool boyfriend 35 years ago the same way.
lets be civil here and stop pointing fingers it could happen to any of us.
by the way my son was the one putting the cross on the sidewalk with respect for anybody involved.
my prayers go out to anyone that has been touched by this tragic accident.

In response to the one person who asked about the INNOCENT motorists who were injured.....YES there were significant injuries! My 28 yr old cousin was driving the Cherokee and she is having her jaw wired shut today because the impact of that corvette crashing into her head on broke her jaw in about 4 places and knocked most of her teeth out. While we are grateful she is alive, and our hearts go out to the family of the deceased, please do remember that innocent people were injured and their lives turned upside down because of this accident.

All these comments are sickening. The things some of you said, you should be ashamed. This story isn't about elitism, and the parents shouldn't be sued. No other drivers were injured, he was the only one. A 17 year old innocent kid is dead, and you all have the audacity to make such comments? You truly are sickening.