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| Tessa Tranchant, 16, left, and Allison Kunhardt, 17, were killed late Friday in a crash on Virginia Beach Boulevard.
(Courtesy photo) |
By STEVE STONE AND DAVE FORSTER
The Virginian-Pilot
VIRGINIA BEACH - Two teenagers were killed late Friday when a car plowed into the rear of their vehicle as they waited for a green light at an intersection. The driver of the other car was charged with manslaughter.
"It's tragic is all I can say," said Jimmy Barnes, a police spokesman.
The victims were 17-year Allison Kunhardt of the 700 block of Sir Walter Circle and 16-year-old Tessa Tranchant of the 4500 block of Genoa Circle.
"They were just sitting at the light, strapped in their seat belts," said Ray Tranchant, Tessa's father. "They were just doing what they were supposed to be doing."
Charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter is Alfredo Ramos, 22, who gave his address to police as the 100 block of Trace Court, Barnes said. That address, just off Virginia Beach Boulevard, is less than two miles from the scene of the collision.
Ramos is being held without bond at the Virginia Beach Correctional Center pending an arraignment hearing Monday.
Meanwhile, the families and friends of the two victims struggled with grief.
Dozens of them gathered in the afternoon at a Friendly's restaurant Saturday to console each other. The two girls became close friends when Tessa's mother began dating Allison's father.
"When they met they were inseparable," Colette Tranchant said of her daughter and her friend.
Allison attended First Colonial High School; Tessa attended Kellam.
"You see all of the friends she has here," Colette Tranchant said, looking around the restaurant Saturday.
 Students from Kellam High School console each other Saturday at Virginia Beach Boulevard and Kings Grant Road, where a Kellam classmate and a student at First Colonial High School were killed in a crash the previous night. GENEVIEVE ROSS / THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT |
Among them was Tessa's older brother, Dylan Tranchant.
He said the girls spent much of Friday holed up in his sister's room watching movies. The two shared a Monty Python-like sense of humor and loved to quote lines from the film "Napoleon Dynamite," he said.
"It almost becomes like an improv comedy when they're together," he said. "They were a perfect pair."
After the movies, Tessa, an aspiring chef who also loved to sing and surf, her mother said, cooked a spicy meal of chicken wings and pizza.
The girls were driving to a friend's house Friday night.
"I'm just going to go ahead and ride with denial for a while," Dylan Tranchant said.
Friends recalled Tessa as a goofy, sassy, positive girl to whom people could tell secrets in confidence and not worry about them becoming gossip.
"She wouldn't give anyone a reason not to like her," Samantha Augone said.
Allison, known as Ally by her friends, was a typical teenage girl who loved clothes, music and shopping, Dylan Tranchant said.
"They always went everywhere together," he said of the two.
David Kunhardt said police came to his door about 2:15 a.m. Saturday to deliver the news.
The death has shaken Allison's entire family, "but especially her older sister," Ashley, 22, a junior at Old Dominion University, he said. "She is taking it very hard."
Allison "had a great, unbelievably witty sense of humor," her father said. "She was always upbeat." He recalled bringing her on cruises to the Caribbean. "I took her a couple times and she fell in love with it. She would bring it up every three months or so: 'Let's go on a cruise, Dad.' "
He said his daughter loved music and theater.
She worked at a local market and dreamed of becoming an interior decorator after college. Her style "was always away from the norm," he said. "It always had to be different."
Her "number one thing, however, was to hang out with Tessa," he said. "They were definitely inseparable. I've never seen a closer friendship. They would finish each other's sentences."
The girls' friends cried and laughed as they talked Saturday, but there was an undercurrent of anger.
One girl said many of the friends plan to attend Ramos' trial.
The wreck was reported about 11:25 p.m., Barnes said, at Virginia Beach Boulevard and Kings Grant Road.
Barnes said Ramos was driving a 1998 two-door Mitsubishi westbound on Virginia Beach Boulevard when it crashed into the rear of a 1994 Plymouth driven by Allison. Barnes said both speed and alcohol were factors in the wreck.
The Plymouth was stopped at a red light at the Kings Grant intersection, Barnes said.
Allison and Tessa were pinned in the wreckage and had to be cut free before paramedics could tend them.
One of the girls died at the scene; the other was pronounced dead shortly after arrival at a hospital, Barnes said. Both were wearing seat belts, he said.
Ramos also was wearing a seat belt and suffered only minor injuries, Barnes said.
It was unclear how fast the vehicle Ramos was driving was going at the time of the crash or whether he attempted to stop before the collision. The speed limit in that area is posted at 45 mph.
Barnes said the investigation continues and that additional details may be released Monday.
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I am feeling your grief too
My name is April Godin. The father of my 10 year old twins was just killed by an illegal immigrant with 4 DUI convictions as well. This was his 5th. Kent was on his way to work when Isidro Pena was driving aprox 90 mph, passing cars & struck him head on. This happened March 31st 2007. This guy was also carrying 2 lbs of meth. I would really like to contact this family. Hopefully they would want to speak to me? my email is amg383@yahoo.com My thoughts are with your families. The scary part is you are not alone. I would like to be of any help I can be. There is no words to describe this pain or answers to our questions.
Teens Against Careless Driving
VA Beach I offer my condolences. Our loss of teens in car accidents has reached epidemic proportions. Over 6000 lives are lost each year. Alcohol and drugs play a role in 25 to 30% of those deaths. The main cause of deaths is distractions. Friends, cell phones, radios, IPODs, eating and other distractions cause teens to lose control of vehicle. The death of Ally and Tessa is a tragedy that occurs 20 times a day in the USA. We as parents must take responsibility in teaching our teens how to drive carefully and safely. True we can not stop all tragedies but we can pressure our law makers and judges to punish those who drive without regard for others swiftly and heavily. We need laws that take violators off the road for good.
There are many free and low cost driving courses. Get your teens trained. Show them the dangers of driving.
It's a big deal
I feel bad for the girls but I think that we don't personally make a big enough deal about any other drunk drivers, because this guy was an illegal immigrant, all of a sudden this story is considered a national story, what about every other drunk driver? I see and hear an approximate 10 second story on the local news about others who are killed by drunk drivers but all of a sudden, an illegal kills two girls and it is more important than all the guys getting killed over in Iraq? Talk about a waste. What is wrong with people in the US? There are accidents everyday involving alcohol and this one incident has become so much more important? Why don't we just turn back to prohibition again? Why not put the pressure on the companies who get people drunk? Finally everyone knows that you put your life in risk when you fire up your vehicle and fasten your safety belt. It is ridiculous how people talk about deporting him back, he won't serve his time in Mexico, you people need to wake up.
How deep can one's disrespect run?
My goodness, Tessa and Ally (rest in peace) have only been gone for one week. The bestreason that we can give for this senselessness is that the person driving the car didn't have his citizenship? So then what if his citizenship status would have come through the next day, would it have been alright then? And for those who said, "a 16 and 17 y.o. have no business on the road after 11pm", would it have been okay if they were both 18? or if this conveniently happened at 10:30? Try looking sweet Kelsi (her little sister) in the face and telling her this is why her sister is gone! Or Dylan, her brother, or mother Colette or father Ray. Trust me, it would not go over well- i know it. We too soon forget the greatest irresponsibility in the matter was with a drunk driver and repeat offender (worse). Unfortunately, the Kundhardts and Tranchants are being disrespected because people choose to obfuscate the bigger picture with politics and personal agenda. All my love to both families affected.
No Curfew Violation
The accident occured at 10:30 PM. They were not in violation.
May God bless these beautiful young girls and their families
I can't even begin to express my sorrow for these young ladies and their families. While I did not know these young ladies personally, I have alot of friends that were friends with them. It's such a horrible tragedy and my heart truely goes out to their families. Nobody who who has a heart can rightly accuse them for being the cause of their daughters' deaths because they allowed them out after curfew. I don't know somebody could even say that, let alone even think it. I guess it doesn't matter to them that the man who hit them was drunk for one and was also illegally in the country. On top of that was charged with multiple things prior to this event and still let go. Who was in the wrong really? I hope that gives people something to think about when they go to accuse these parents. But back to the families, you have our support and your girls will never be forgotten.
God Bless You
Protect USA Citizens
We must push our elected officials to protect both northern & southern borders with strong fences & deportation of all illegals.
May the blessings of our Heavenly Father be with both families.
I think the day is coming
If you're lucky in life, you will be borned into and raised in a happy family, you will get a descent education, fall in love and marry your best friend and have a family of your own. The idea, that for personal gain, a number of corrupt politicians would put the safety our of families and our children in jeopardy is beyond my comprehension and is absolutely inexcuseable.
Since our government cannot or will not protect us from this insanity, I think the day is coming when you're going to see a massacre of public officials. It's only a matter of time.
Illegal Aliens Are The Problem
I am angery that these two innocent American girls were slaughtered by this illegal alien. When will this nation, including the bleeding heart liberals that allowed him to plow into these children, wake up and force these people back to the places they came from? These two girls will never graduate from high school, go to college or marry. They are six feet under because some illegal got into our country, got drunk and crashed into these two lovely girls. Their futures are over. Their families are left to grieve. Everyone who believes in allowing illegals into this country can blame themselves for these sudden, horrible deaths. These girls will never get the chance to grow up. Happy now?
Thoughts... prayers and the future
I am very sad to hear about what happened to these two young women. My thoughts go out to the families, friends and all others who are affected by this awful tragedy. It's a time to reflect on the wonderful time the two shared with everyone but it's also a time to make sure this does not happen again. We must hold our government leaders and courts accountable for their neglect. Please make sure you make your voice heard to all of them and let us get someone in the various offices that will work for us and protect our children. Illegal means illegal so arrest and deport them. How difficult is it for our officials to understand that. I agree with an earlier post, hold all who harbored this illegal accountable and protect our borders. Border patrol agents in jail for trying to stop an illegal drug smuggler, National Guard members on the border not allowed to protect themselves, even kids in Va Beach no where near the border deeply affected by illegals. It is enough already, No more!
My heartfelt Sympathy goes out to these families.
R.I.P. Tessa
I would like to send out my condolenses to the Tranchant family, I hope that the person that done this spends the rest of his life behind bars,, I never personally knew you, but I seen you around school alot, and I respect your family and I will support your family all the way to the end!! R.I.P. Tessa we will miss you and have you in our thoughts
We share your sorrow
Our hearts go out to the families of both the girls. We so often heard news of Tessa from her grandmother and had the pleasure of seeing her and her sister dance their Irish dances at their grandparent's anniversary party a few years back. We were looking forward to getting to know her better on your next visit to San Diego and hoping she could get to know our teenage daughters. All our love and support to all of you, you are in our prayers.
Rita (Moran) & Pepe Alanis
Teen Curfew?
This is a terrible tragedy! Of course the idiot who caused all of this should remain behind bars...however, I am also concerned that the parents of the teenages did not enforce the Va Beach City Curfew...which if I recall is 11PM for those 18 and under...from what I understand, the accident occurred at 11:30 PM...which means these unfortunate teens were out and beyond the established curfew.
This story should raise anger in us all
An illegal immigrant kills 2 innocent people, still not in the prime of their lives, and it raises several questions.
First, why was he still here? He'd been in trouble several times before and noone thought of finding out if he was illegal or not? Illegal immigrants should not be covered by the same rights as those of us who are legal U.S. Citizens. They broke the law entering the country and they want to be covered by our rights? I think not!
Secondly, he is only being charged with vehicular manslaughter? What a joke!
Third, the restaurant where he worked needs to be fined heavily for employing him.
Last, the Va Pilot interviewed his brother who is also illegal and I bet they won't turn him in.
They are nothing more than common criminals by being here illegally! If you look at stats nationwide, a great number of traffic fatalities are a result of crashes involving illegal aliens. Screw people getting offended. Get these people out NOW!
rip
i have never met these girl's but i have friend's who were there friend's, but to the people who did the curfew story 0about kids under 18 not driving after 10 without an adult, wel tell you the truth, curfew has nothing to do with anything, what happened to these 2 girls can happen to anyone at anytime, although it shouldnt of happened to them or anyone for that matter, but instaed of them it could've been a 4 yr's old parents, it could've been you or your parents or brothers or sisters, curfew has nothing to do about it
My prayers go out.
My deepest sympathy and prayers go out to the families of the two young ladies that died this past Friday, at the hands of a selfish, thoughtless young man, that didn't even have the right to be driving, let alone be in this country. He is in this country illegally and earning money at a job that he has no intentions of filing taxes since he doesn't possess a social security number. I think the restaurant should be fined, and the city of Chesapeake is guilty for not contacting immigration, so they should also be held responsible.
Where's the Fence?
It's sad enough when two young lives are taken but what makes it worse is the missed opportunities to have stopped this maniac. Why did Chesapeake withdraw charges against him for driving without a liscense and no insurance? What about the identy theft charge as well? That in itself should have garnered Ramos time in prison.This man should have been deported long ago and the two girls would still be alive. It seems the most he can get is a slap on the wrist and deportation. Then what? Come back to the U.S and assume another identity and continue on as though nothing happened. Wake up America! Only when Mexico sees fit to control the flow of illegals will it stop. Funny, as their immigration laws are tougher than ours. Tessa and Allison, two lovely young ladies are now together forever. So, sad!
My condolences
My prayers and thoughts are with the families- sorry for your loss
The Company Ramos Works at is to Blame!
My prayers go out to the families for thier lose. Although Ramos is a repete offender, the events on this evening are a freak one time occurance as it relates to those involved. However, the company that hired, continued to employee Ramos each day and pay him weekly enabled this to happen. They knowingly allowed this to happen. It is this disregard to laws that allowed this to happen. I ask you this "the Pilot", what did you do about Ramoes illegal brother? And what follow up are you going to do with the company that employeed Ramos.
Mexico's Ellis Island
When our people came to the United States they had to come through Ellis Island and be processed. Wwhere is the Ellis Island for Mexico. I don't mind the Mexicans coming to the U S but lets do it on the record.
To the person who wants to enforce a curfew??
Are you kidding me? How 'bout keeping illegal-imigrant-law-breakers out of this country. This man had prior alcohol related convictions in Virginia Beach and Chesapeake, as well as other pending charges against him and no one initiated deportation proceedings against this criminal. he was driving drunk. he is in our country illegally. he is breaking the law! and now he has killed two innocent teenages who had their whole lives ahead of them. These two kids were not doing anything wrong. Your solution to this is to have an adult in the car with the kids after 10pm? Guess what? If there was an adult in the car with these beautiful teenage girls, the adult would have been killed, too! Get real!
With Deepest Sympathy
I write as someone who lost a loved one to a drunk driver. My most sincere and deepest condolences to the family and friends of these two young girls. May God hold you both close to "His" heart!
Curfew
we need to enforce a curfew, b/c our young children are being killed too often in car accidents late at night. Late night unfortunately is when the crazies & drunks are out on our roads. Children under 18 should not be driving after 10pm w/ out an adult present. Let's keep our children safe, my daughter is not allowed out of the house after 10pm, she has no reason to be out so late during the week or weekend.
Preventable Tragedy
We often talk about social workers who drop the ball when it comes to child deaths due to child abuse.It amazes me at the kind of record this illegal immigrant had, and how he was able to remain in the country resulting in the tragedy we see here. It is not even known if this guy served any jail time at all. Had the local government enforced the law in the same way it enforces the law on local citizens, there is no doubt that this would not have happened.We have the same situation here in Arizona, only we do arrest and deport in these circumstances. Until the public holds its elected officials, and law enforcement responsible, US citizens will have little if no protection when they are victims of these sorts of crimes. Had these girls lived, who's insurance would have been raised?Who would have been stuck with the medical bills?It is a question many people need to really think about.
Such a tragedy for these families and our whole community
And, it appears the Pilot is protecting his brother...also illegal. So sad. They should be protecting us from the law breakers.
Truly sad.
It never ceases to amaze me that drunk drivers continue to walk away unharmed after killing other people. I also am amazed by the large number who reamin on the streets just until they kill someone before they ever serve any time "if" they serve any time. Most of the time this is catorigized as involuntary manslaughter. They knew exactly what they were doing when they decided to drive drunk. Still harsher laws are needed. I am extremely sorry for the plan that these families have to endure. Please never let anyone tell you this was God's will. It was not! God is a loving God and is the giver of life not the taker of people's children.
Prayers for the families
My prayers to the families and friends!
I was recently at a revival service where the pastor suggested that judges should be accountable for criminals in cases like this. We are suppose to pray for our enemies etc…. well the Lord doesn't say what to pray about. I pray the law gives this illegal alien the maximum penalty.
He had a DUI record and should have been out of our country long ago!! Life in prison is to light...
Drunk Driver
This person is not only in this country illegally, but has taken the life of two young women. Did he have a license? And if he did, did he get it legally? People in this country have to prove who they are before they can get a license, but people from other countries can come in get job, license and any thing the want and it goes unnoticed until something like this happends. My heart goes out to both families, it such a lost.
Someone should inquire as to why the judge...
let this illegal back on the streets and didn't call ice to come and get him. And if i am reading the follow up story correctly, the only punishment this person will receive is...deportation? deportation!!! Can this be? Isn't it a little late!!! What a nightmare for these families. They can't even use our justice system to go after this guy -- he's untouchable.