Best Friends Forever
Road:
Hwy 395, 2 miles north of the 15 Fwy Interchange,
Hesperia
Location:
Hesperia,
California
Victim #1: James
Donley
Date of Accident:
August 23, 2002
Date of Birth:
October 29, 1985
Inscription:
"James
Donley, 16 Years Old, 10-29-85
Your family will miss you. Christ is
with you forever / Rest in peace;
WE LOVE YOU ALWAYS!"
Age: 16
Special Items: Heart-shaped
rock with inscription, Matchbox car (hot rod), photo of the victim, and large
wooden shamrock.
Victim #2: Neal
????
Date of Accident:
August 23, 2002
Date of Birth:
?
Inscription:
"Neal"
Age: ?
Special Items: Ashtray,
coffee cup, stuffed animal, and Matchbox car (monster truck)
Victim #3: Nolan
????
Date of Accident:
August 23, 2002
Date of Birth:
?
Inscription:
"Nolan"
Age: ?
Special Items: Sports
bottle and Matchbox car (yellow sedan)
Victim #4: Peggy
????
Date of Accident:
August 23, 2002
Date of Birth:
?
Inscription:
"Peggy"
Age: ?
Special Items: Stuffed
animals, photo of the victim, and Matchbox car (red sedan)
Victim #5: Jason
????
Date of Accident:
August 23, 2002
Date of Birth:
?
Inscription:
"Jason"
Age: ?
Special Items: Eagle,
box with fake roses, ceramic angel, friendship bracelet, and Matchbox car (red
truck)
Description:
This huge roadside memorial pays tribute to 5
teens killed in a horrific accident. 5 metal white crosses stand vigil
at the site. Each cross is painted with the name of a victim, and some
even have the victim's photo attached. USMC stickers are affixed to each
cross under the name, and all crosses have their own Matchbox car. A
second, larger cross is dedicated to James Dooley, and is adorned with his
photo and Xmas garland. A huge, aluminum cross, wearing a black cowboy
hat, looms in the background. This cross is possibly a tribute to James,
as it has a handwritten inscription to him on the back. It may also be
the first cross put on the site after the accident. Potted plants,
flowers, a large wooden shamrock, and stuffed animals surround the crosses of
this memorial. A medium-sized American flag sits in front of the
tribute.
Analysis:
Man, this is REALLY
disturbing. In terms of sheer scale, this is the biggest roadside
memorial with the most victims that I have ever seen.
5 teenagers cut down in the prime in one tragic car accident. I can't
even imagine how all 5 could be killed at once - - it must have been a fiery,
horrible crash. The family of James Dooley seems to be the drivers
behind this monument, as James has the biggest, most prominent memorial.
Since I took these pictures in 2002, the memorial has morphed into a more
subtle, permanent monument off Hwy. 395 in Hesperia.
More Images: Photo One - Photo Two - Photo Three - Photo Four - Photo Five - Photo Six - Photo Eight
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