“No Parent Should Ever Go Through This”: Mother of Girl Killed in Crash

Officials confirm the 16-year-old driver of the Dodge Durango did not have a license.

Instead of preparing for her daughter's Sweet 16 birthday party this weekend, the mother of a girl killed in a crash that also left another girl dead is planning for her funeral.

Alicia Zavala cant describe in words how badly her heart at the loss of her daughter, Valerie, killed in a crash in Ontario on Thursday night.

"No parent should ever go through this," Zavala said through tears. "Never in my life would I ever imagine...

"We are still in a state of shock that we don't know where to go from here, where to turn."

Valerie, a popular student at Chino High School was out with three friends, including a female classmate.

"She was always looking out for me, trying to tell me that we were going to be better because she was going to get a job and that she was going to help with the rest of the children," Zavala said at a Friday night vigil.

They were riding in an SUV when the driver, a 16-year-old boy who doesn't have a license, lost control on South Grove Avenue and struck a light pole.

Valerie and her female friend died. The driver and an 18-year-old man survived.

"I understand it was an accident, and I'm pretty sure he would've gave anything for this not to happen," Zavala said.

Friday morning at the high school, close friends of Valerie went home early to mourn the tragedy.

"She was the one to make me laugh," said Esmeralda Avila. "I couldn't believe it."

Jesse Duarte, a student, said she was just beautiful inside and out.

"She didn't deserve to die," he said.

Sarah Giambona said, "It's really scary. It's really sad."

Another friend said he saw the teen right before she died.

"I saw her seven hours before," Edgar Oceguera said at her Friday night vigil. "She was right and front of me, and the next...she's gone."

On Saturday, Valerie was supposed to celebrate her Sweet 16th birthday, along with her sister's quincinera.

"We were preparing for a big celebration and now it's a funeral," Zavala said.

At the vigil, Zavala said the family wasn't dropping the plans to celebrate the teens.

"We're still continuing with the party for tomorrow, because this is something that she truly wanted and she was looking forward to this, so I'm not going to cancel," Zavala said. "Celebrate Valerie's life as well as her sister's quinceanera."

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A memorial fund was set up to help pay for the funeral.

Wells Fargo
Elizabeth Jimenez
FBO Valerie Zavala Memorial Services

Routing- 122000247
Checking- 8446973078

Samia Khan and Kevin LaBeach contributed to this report.

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