West San Jose Resident

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Prospect student Jessica Stephens' tragedy touches community

By Emilie Crofton

Michael Stephens' 16-year old daughter, Jessica, planted a tender kiss on his cheek, something the teen rarely did, as she smiled goodbye to her father. That is one of the last memories he will have of his daughter.

Just a couple of days later, Stephens received every parent's worse nightmare, a phone call telling the family of West San Jose that Jessica Stephens, a junior at Prospect High School, had been killed in a car accident.

Eduardo Perez, 19, was traveling 75 mph-- 30 miles over the limit--with Jessica and two other passengers in a Honda CRX. Perez allegedly ran a red light and crashed into a Chevy Astrovan at 12:20 a.m. on Jan. 9 at the intersection of San Tomas Expressway and W. Hamilton Avenue.

Jessica and her friend, 16-year-old Michelle Mansour, also a junior at Prospect, were riding illegally in the two-person vehicle, crouched in the hatchback portion of the Honda.

"It's hard to grasp," Jessica's father said. "She made the wrong choice and paid for it with her life."

Jessica's family hopes her death will not be in vain and that this tragedy will teach other teenagers an important lesson.

"Be safe and listen to your parents," said Stephens. "If her death can reach out and touch one heart, if we can save one person, some good will have come out of this."

Friends and family described Jessica as a loving and happy teenager whose piercing eyes sparkled every day.

"When she smiled, her eyes smiled," said her half-brother Michael "Mikie" Stephens. "It was infectious; it always lit up a room whenever she walked in."

The youngest of four siblings, Jessica was "definitely the baby of the family," said 24-year-old Mikie.

Jessica was part of a blended household consisting of siblings Jeremy Boatman, Stacie Stephens and Kyle England, plus her half-brother Mikie.

Jessica was fearless, assertive and headstrong. She loved to water-ski with her family on the San Joaquin River Delta and ride on the back of her brother's motorcycle. She begged Mikie to take her skydiving after she turned 18.

She was never one to care about what others thought of her, her family said.

"Sometimes she'd go to school in her pajama bottoms; she didn't care," her father said. "But people loved her for her personality, not her clothes. She was beautiful inside and out."

Jessica's friends described her as a typical teen who loved animals, the mall, her phone, MySpace and Taco Bell.

She also loved children, especially babies. She was a junior EMT in seventh grade, her favorite class in high school was child development and she worked at a nearby daycare center caring for infants.

"Her dream in life was to become a prenatal nurse," her stepmother Cori Stephens said.

On Jan. 11, friends, family and even strangers honored Jessica's caring spirit. More than 200 people came to the candlelight vigil at the spot where the accident had occurred earlier that week. A makeshift memorial marking the tragedy continues to grow.

"We've been overwhelmed with everyone's support. We really appreciate it," Mikie said. "The turnout blew our minds, and the outpouring of love continues."

Friends and students at Prospect High School are using the tragedy as a lesson about the dangers of driving.

"It opens your eyes. You can't take anything for granted," said 17-year-old George Hicks, a friend of Jessica's who also went to Prospect. "You always have to be safe and aware when you drive. This happened on a street we use every day."

Perhaps the most important lesson these students have come to realize is they are vulnerable.

"It could have happened to anyone," senior Devin Cannon said. "I know I'll never drive in car without a seat belt ever again."

Prospect High School dean of students Russell Warren said, " It's a painful shock, and we are coping and trying to work through it. Right now we are working to see what we can do to be of service to Jessica's family."

Michelle, who was riding in the hatchback area next to Jessica at the time of the accident, was one of those most affected. Jessica's parents had told her she was not allowed to go out. It was late, and a school night. But she didn't listen and snuck out while her parents were asleep.

Michelle was seriously injured in the accident.

Paul Medina, the 19-year-old front-seat passenger, sustained moderate injuries in the crash. Perez, the driver, was brought to Valley Medical Center in critical condition with major injuries. He faces arrest on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence. He could also be found in violation of the 2007 "trunking" law that bans drivers from carrying passengers in trunks or places not intended to carry passengers, according to California Highway Patrol officer Todd Thibodeau.

The driver of the van was not injured.

Services have been held. The family requests donations in Jessica Stephens' name be made to St. Mary's Medical Center, 450 Stanyan St., San Francisco, CA 94117.