This passed week I have gone through a lot. Frustration set in and I regret that I was actually angry at others when I should have just let things go and mourned on my own. I expected others to be there for me in a time of need, as I have been for them. Unfortunatly you can never predict those individuals who pretend to be something they're not. Going to work the following day was one of the most difficult things I've ever had to do. I woke up and called my boss and asked if I could come in a couple hours later-as I only had about 2 hours of sleep. Since I was driving to Talkeetna anyway it didn't appear to be a problem. As I drove passed the scene and saw the skid marks I could help but cry. It was a tough drive alone...I've never lossed anyone that was personally close to me that wasn't family. It's was even more difficult knowing how far I was from any comfort. I probably was not in good enough shape to work, but I knew others were in the same boat as me and I had to suck it up for a few hours and get the job done. I walked into the Guest Services office and everyone starred then looked away quickly. No one asked questions-they knew. I recieved the most meaningful hugs that day. I feel so fortunate to those 4 people who took personal interest in my feelings and emotions. I deal with my own problems I'd like to thing quite personally and it hurt that I wasn't able to express how I was feeling to those who mattered. The only people I could tell was Del and my Mom. I miss so many things about Nate Pollard. I deleted his number out of my phone yesterday...I figured it'd be easier on me to not see his name everytime I scrolled down to send a text to one of my family members (noble).
- I hate that one night you told me you wanted to talk but I was too busy to come over
- I miss the fact that we would talk to our mom's together.
- I miss your hugs that you'd give me as you'd pass by
- I miss the "comment" cards you'd give me at the tour desk.
- I wish I really would've taken time to walk over there on wednesday when you were saying "come here" but I refused because you were with someone I wanted to avoid seeing.
- I miss that times you'd text me for advice.
- I wish I would've had the opportunity to smoke you boys in a softball game.
- I hate that the times you were around I didn't spend more time with you.
- I hate that you were the only one out of the group in the car that i really knew personally and actually had a relationship with.
- you meant so much to me- and many others. Your humor and love will always be with us.
- It's so hard to walk passed your room, and not have you taunt me about shaving my head while giving one of the boys a hair cut.
- It's difficult to know that you're not here.
- It's even more difficult to know I'll never see you again.
- It's harder to know that I saw it coming that afternoon :(
3 lodge workers die in car crash on Parks Highway
21-YEAR-OLDS: Men were returning from Talkeetna; 2 others critically injured.
By
SEAN COCKERHAMscockerham@adn.comPublished: July 6th, 2008 12:17 AMLast Modified: July 6th, 2008 02:33 AM
Three workers at the McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge died Friday night after a car wreck on the Parks Highway.
William Bradley, Nathan Pollard and Jerry Luzzi, all 21-year-olds from California, died when their 2003 Infiniti rolled several times at about 8:33 p.m. Friday.
Friends said it was their third year working the summer in Alaska.
Two others in the car, 20-year-old Matthew Holmes and 19-year-old Christopher Niles, both from Michigan, survived but are hospitalized in critical condition, according to the Alaska State Troopers.
The men had been in Talkeetna for the Fourth of July, and troopers believe they were returning to the McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge when the accident happened near Denali National Park, at Mile 131 of the highway.
"They were only two miles from the lodge when they crashed," said trooper spokeswoman Beth Ipsen.
Ipsen said it was a one-vehicle accident and there were no witnesses.
Troopers are still trying to piece together what happened but said all five men were thrown from the vehicle.
None were wearing seat belts, Ipsen said.
Pollard and Luzzi died at the scene, and Bradley died on the way to the hospital, Ipsen said.
Niles was taken to Mat-Su Regional Medical Center and transferred Saturday to the critical care unit at Alaska Native Medical Center.
A LifeGuard helicopter flew Holmes to Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage.
Three of the men had been at the West Rib Bar in Talkeetna earlier in the day, but only Bradley and Pollard reportedly drank there, and only had a beer each, said Ipsen.
At least some of them were later seen at the park in downtown Talkeetna, "partying with others the same age who may work with them," Ipsen said.
Because of this, troopers say they suspect alcohol may have been a factor in the crash.
CLOSE FAMILIES IN CALIFORNIA
The three dead men had all attended La Habra High School in California together, said Edna Salazar of La Habra, whose son was friends with all of them.
"There are a lot of families that are close to these families," Salazar said. "They were very outgoing, very outgoing, happy guys,"
She said this was their third year of summer seasonal work in Alaska. In the wintertime, they worked at Mammoth Mountain, a California ski and snowboarding resort.
"They were outdoors types of guys. Snowboarding was their thing when they were at Mammoth," Salazar said.
She said Luzzi lived in La Habra, while Bradley and Pollard were from Whittier, Calif.
Some of the men's friends were at Salazar's home Saturday night, gathering together as details about what happened slowly came out.
Salazar said the parents of the men had already gone up to Alaska to make the necessary arrangements, while the shocking news spread through the community.
Troopers said they believe Bradley was driving when the men left the park in Talkeetna at 7 p.m.
"We don't know for sure who was driving, but based on (reports that) he never lets anyone drive his car, he was probably driving at the time," Ipsen said.
Troopers haven't been able to interview the two survivors because of their severe injuries, Ipsen said. The state medical examiner will perform autopsies on the dead, and the car has been impounded for the investigation, Ipsen said.
Salazar said her family was especially close to Luzzi. Her son knew him since elementary school. He "loved to be around people and people loved to be around him," she said.
"They will be missed terribly," Salazar said.
some type of cemetary we stopped by. It was really weird and there was a charge to go inside. I'm pretty sure it was like $5. haha what a rip off. We just stood at the gate and zoomed in.
Joy and I
Kaynie, me, Chris and Joy
The three of us. We are all standing straight up except me. I'm leaning a little. That just shows how tall Kaynie is haha
Standing on the totem poles. It was quite interesting to get up them!
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