Alexis Weiner, Eleanor's best friend, shared this photograph she took of Claire Koen (left), Eleanor Patrick (center) and Nicola Rooke. Eleanor and Nicola both died in the crash.

Tragedy strikes Saratoga teens

By Leigh Ann Maze

Saratoga's close-knit community has once again pulled together in grief to mourn the tragic loss of young lives.

Saratoga High School students Eleanor Patrick, 16, and Nicola Rooke, 15, died in a car accident Sept. 3. Lucy Anderson and Alyssia Goddard, both 15, who were SHS students for the past two years and passengers in the car, were hospitalized at Valley Medical Center and were discharged on Sept. 7.

The accident came as a shock to the community. "These were good kids," said Kathy Weiner, who considered Eleanor as part of her own family. Eleanor and Weiner's daughter Alexis were best friends.

The girls were part of a group of seven that was spending one last night together before Alyssia was to leave for boarding school in Pennsylvania. The group left Tower Pizza in Los Gatos in two vehicles on their way to a slumber party.

Around 10:20 p.m. Eleanor, who was driving the silver Volkswagen Beetle she received in May for her 16th birthday, lost control of her car while traveling northbound on Fruitvale Avenue. The car went into a spin and hit a power pole near Farwell Avenue. The cause of the accident was most likely speed, according to Sgt. John Hirokawa with the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Department, however, sheriffs are investigating further. All four girls were wearing their seat belts and no drugs or alcohol are believed to be involved, Hirokawa said.

Sheriffs have determined that Eleanor was driving in violation of a new teen driving law passed in 1998 which states that new drivers under the age of 18 may not have passengers in their car under age 20 for the first six months.

Word of the tragedy spread quickly through Saratoga's community. So quickly, in fact, that a crowd of about 75 to 100 people gathered at the scene before fire personnel had finished using the jaws of life to remove the injured girls from the car, which took about 35 minutes, according to Michael Buress, a Saratoga Fire District firefighter.

It is possible that the girls may have been speeding down Fruitvale Avenue because they were trying to "catch air" or "hill hop," driving fast over dips or hills in the road to get a roller coaster-like sensation. Sheriff's Traffic Investigator Kris Tarabetz said students have been telling sheriffs it is an activity many teens try on Fruitvale Avenue.

"I think there are kids who may have driven the exact same route at the same speed," said SHS PTSA president Bette Cruikshank. "They are at an age where they participate in risky behavior. I think a lot of kids are thinking about how lucky they are and it makes grieving for these girls who weren't so lucky more painful."

Both girls were just beginning their junior year at SHS.

"They were wonderful kids, tremendously popular, they had lots of friends and were very involved in teams and school activities," said SHS principal Kevin Skelly. "It's just an absolute tragedy."

Nicola, who spent her childhood in England, ran on the track team and was a student aide in the SHS office. "She always attended dances and football games," Skelly said.

Lindsey Moore, 16, remembers her best friend Nicola as a loving, kind, happy, energetic person--and a bit of a know-it-all.

"Lindsey and Nicola are truly more than sisters," Lynn Moore, Lindsey's mother, said. "When you see one you always see the other. We will miss Nicola immeasurably."

"Nicola's birthday is on Saturday," Lindsey said. "She was going to get her license. We've been counting down the days since one year ago. It was six more days,I guess."

Senior Pastor Keith Potter with Saratoga Federated Church said the word that came up most often about Nicola in his talks with her parents was "vibrant."

Community members lovingly covered the marks where Patrick's car hit the power pole with flowers, balloons, cards, letters, ribbons, photos, drawings and personal items. They spill onto the ground all around the pole and reach as high as a person can reach. A steady flow of friends, family and strangers stop to visit and to make their contribution. Many cry.

When school resumed at SHS on Tuesday morning, it was not business as usual.

While some students went to class, many others were there to console themselves and each other, Skelly said.

"Most kids came to school today. It makes me feel good that when they're hurting they feel this is a place where they can find support."

About a dozen grief counselors from the Centre For Living With Dying were on hand, and will continue to be available to the students for as long as they are needed.

A kickoff rally, an ASB meeting and part of the school district's board meeting were all postponed as SHS grieved.

The support was also tremendous at Redwood Middle School for Nicola's younger brother Ben.

"[Redwood] Principal Christopher Farmer made a wonderfully eloquent address to the kids on how to be there for Ben," Cruikshank said. "A pin drop could have been heard in that room."

On Sept. 11, the SHS PTSA and the Centre For Living with Dying sponsored a community talk in the SHS library about the grieving process, providing an opportunity for the community to come together in the aftermath of the accident to comfort and be comforted.

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