Posted on 09/28/2023 4:29:59 AM PDT by Recovering_Democrat
Craig Hawkins’ last memory of his son, Daniel, is a happy one.
He remembers the 16-year-old boy tossing a football with friends from church. Hours before, the group had gleefully planned a sleepover, something they hadn’t done in months.
Hawkins left his Corona, California, home Sunday evening for plans in Los Angeles County before the tragedy unfolded.
Authorities say that around 10 p.m., one of the boys rang the doorbell of Anurag Chandra, then ran to a waiting Toyota Prius. Investigators have called it a “doorbell ditch” dare.
There were six boys in the car: Daniel, his 13-year-old brother Joshua and four friends.
Chandra, 42, chased the Prius in his Infinity Q50, officials said.
He bore down at a high speed and rammed the car, causing the Prius to spin out of control and slam into a tree on the side of the road, California Highway Patrol officer Juan Quintero said.
Murder charges:Corona man charged in alleged ramming case that killed three
An October, 2019 photo shows Jacob Ivascu and Sergio Campusano sitting on the shoulders of Drake Ruiz and Daniel Hawkins during a youth event organized by Northpoint Evangelical Free Church of Corona, California.
Three 16-year-olds — Daniel, Jacob Ivascu and Drake Ruiz — died in the crash. Joshua and two other boys survived with injuries.
In the days after officials announced murder charges against Chandra, family and church leaders remember the boys as a tight-knit group of committed Christians — goofy boys who loved sports, video games and their youth group.
That’s why Craig Hawkins wasn’t surprised by the impromptu sleepover. When his son asked “Dad ... can they come over tonight?” his immediate answer was “of course.”
He said the boys’ plans included junk food and — of course — video games.
“I just remember the joy of them beaming from ear-to-ear that we said yes,” Hawkins told USA TODAY on Saturday.
That kind of reaction was typical for the teens: “They relished living ... life itself was celebratory,” Hawkins said. He remembers being in awe at how the boys could make something as mundane as eating food into a silly video.
Indian guy rammed the car of kids play ding dong whatever. Was convicted on 3 counts of murder and got life without parole.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.