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| Caitlin Griffith, 16, left, and Peyton Brown, 13, right, comfort Allie Salinas, 17, during a candlelight vigil Tuesday evening at Mount Trashmore in Virginia Beach.
(vicki cronis/the virginian-pilot) |
By jon frank
The Virginian-Pilot
VIRGINIA BEACH — Beatles music filled the air Tuesday night at Mount Trashmore as approximately 300 people huddled together against a chilly spring wind to light candles and remember two teenage girls.
The deaths Friday of 17-year-old Alison Kunhardt and 16-year-old Tessa Tranchant continued to stun the crowd.
“My world has stopped completely,” said Kunhardt’s 22-year-old sister Ashley . “We are all in a daze.”
The girls died when a 1994 Plymouth driven by Kunhardt was slammed from behind by a 1998 Mitsubishi that police said was driven by Alfredo Ramos. The 22-year-old has been charged with manslaughter.
Both girls were wearing seat belts. The crash occurred at Kings Grant Road and Virginia Beach Boulevard. Police said that both alcohol and speed played a role in the wreck.
Ramos had a prior DUI conviction in Chesapeake and two other alcohol-related convictions.
“He should never have been here,” said John Warner, Kunhardt’s stepfather. Ramos has admitted he is an illegal immigrant.
Delores Rowe, Kunhardt’s great aunt and one of three relatives to address the crowd, said Kunhardt loved the Beatles and was reading a book by John Lennon shortly before her death.
“It made me laugh because I’m a Beatles fan,” she said. “That is my generation.”
Don Hedrick encouraged those in attendance to channel their anger by working to combat drunken driving.
“If you are mad about what happened to Ali and Tessa, stay mad,” Hedrick said.
Many of those in attendance were school mates of Kunhardt and Tranchant, who attended First Colonial and Kellam high schools respectively.
Jeremy Tenney, 17, who attended Kellam with Tranchant, said that the hallways of the school have been a sad and quiet place since the crash.
“You can’t cut a joke or smile,” Tenney said. “It’s been depressing.”
He called Tranchant “a beautiful girl” who would “always bring a smile to anyone’s face.”
David Kunhardt, Ali’s father, pledged to turn “an unbelievable tragedy that should never have occurred” into a cause celebre that will change the laws of the state.
He said he plans to promote an “Ali and Tessa” law that will address the problems of drunken driving and illegal immigration.
But first, he said, he has to recover from his loss.
“You have to grieve,” Kunhardt said.
“I’ll be grieving for a long, long, long time.”
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my best friend ali
It was not the curfew law. The curfew law is 11. so why dont you get your facts straight before commenting ok? Ali was my best friend and for you to sit there and say how it wasn't his fault for being drunk and hitting them? You have serious issues and I honestly think you need help. First of all not many people follow the curfew rule anyway. Yes, it was completely his fault. so dont comment unless you know what your talking about.
Ridiculous
These poor girls, I knew Ali Kunhardt she was one of the most beautiful girls, inside and out. She was a genuienly great person. She was smart, hilarious and Amazing. Its a tragedy this occured, its really surreal. And to whoever has said that it is there fault because they were past cerfew first curfew is 11 it was 10:30 when they were hit and they were going home. It doesn't matter if they were out past curfew if they were 18 they still would have been hit because he was under the influence and driving you people are sick. I just wish Ali's family and Tessa's the best and there are very strong. I wish more people could be like Ali in this world. With love.
Transferring the blame
This is a terrible tragedy and the girls cannot be faulted at all regardless of what time the accident happened. There is no indication of alcohol or drug consumption on their part. We absolutely need to get stricter rules and have more stringent enforcement of the rules. I believe that it should be illegal to drive even after only one drink. Look at the statistics and past records of habitual offenders and you will see that something has to be done. We do not need to be lenient on these criminals we need let them suffer the consequences of their own actions by impacting them with stricter punishments as a deterrent. We hear all the time how strict Va. is but that is just not the truth. As far as the immigration issue is concerned, we, as a whole, are all responsible for this problem. Businesses & individuals are hiring these illegals for cheaper labor whereby causing our welfare and unemployment numbers to increase greatly. And we wonder why we have so much animosity in the world?
A comment falting these poor girls is unconscionable
I cant believe my eyes reading this. I am just a guy from New Jersey that is feeling the horror of a fellow American. This guy illegally invaded our country. 4 alcohol related crimes later he is allowed to roam about like a ticking bomb? Recent coverage with geraldo Revera is also as unconscionable. I sure hope this madness can end. I am horrified and outraged. I would love to give Geraldo a piece of my mind. God Bless these poor girls souls.
we need to take back our country
First of all I have to say to the families how very sorry i am for their loss. We really need to take back our country. There is a reason why they are called illegal immigrants. This man should have been deported on his first offense. We need to give these families as much support as possible and work along side them to help change the laws. These girls paid the ultimate price for someone else's crime. Let's get these laws changed in their memory and to protect the children that are still here.
Not a curfew violation
The accident could not have been the result of a curfew violation, since it occurred at 10:30 pm. Please get your facts straight before you speak. Is it possible the teens were on their way home to meet the curfew requirement? You are right though this accident should have never happened. The offender should not have been in the United States in the first place.
This is a senseless tragedy.
It is Mr. Ramos who was at fault not the 2 teens who were killed by a drunk driver(I cannot believe another reader is blaming the teen girls who are the victims!), who shouldn't have been on the road due to his prior DUI's. Had it not been these 2 it would have been someone else. Possibly someone you loved. My heart goes out to their Families and Friends. The laws in Virginia need changed as far as drunk drivers, and those in our country illegally..and in the U.S. in general. I actually am familiar with the lack of concern over drunk drivers as my ex has gotten many DUI's and only had his license taken once. He was even found with drugs in his truck and was let go. He was given custody of our young son. He still drives drunk..with my son in the truck even(I have called people, no one will even check him out). Evidently by how many criminals are released over and over again to hurt others..the judges are failing to do their job!
I live along the border
My heart goes out the the families of the two young girls. I live along the border and the illegals have been breaking into homes here for years, they destroy property and when people here complain they are called raciest. The illegals have more rights in this country than American citizens. If he had been sent back the first time this would have never happened. We don't permit the boder patrol agents to do their job. If we don't pass laws were american citizens can protect thier homes we are going to see a lot of this.
Welcome to Amexico
Welcome to the future of Amexico. Soon Mexican truck drivers will be allowed to freely cross our borders and travel our interstates (like, possibly this year or next). This is what your elected officials want. They failed to make a resolution to stop the invasion before the election last year and they still don't care. Hopefully it won't be too late before Americans start standing up and rejecting 'politics' and voting for those who actually stand for something.
Va Beach Curfew violated?
What's really sad is that if these teenagers had complied with the Va Beach curfew (i.e. no one under 18 is supposed to out later than 11PM)...than it's very possible this tragedy would not have occurred to them.
illegal immigrants
My heart breaks for these two families! My daughter was also hit by an illegal immigrant on January 6 on Virginia Beach Blvd. She is recovering, but has had to deal with so much pain, having 10 broken bones, losing her spleen, missing out on a semester of college. The saddest thing, however, is that the guys who hit her didn't even stop to check to see if she was alive-they ran and haven't been caught. Once my daughter was off her ventilator, she asked over and over again, "How could they just leave me there to die? What kind of person does that kind of thing?" Only someone guilty of doing something illegal is my answer! I am now shedding more tears for two young innocent ladies I have never met, Tessa and Alison. How my heart aches for their friends and families! May Alfredo Ramos pay for his crimes!
The Allison and Tess tragedy
I am at a loss for words to express the sorrow I have for the senseless killing of Allison Kunhardt and Tessa Tranchant. This type of incident should have been prevented before this fugitive from the law had a chance to take these young innocent lives. I think that Mr. Alfredo Ramos has shown his disregard for our laws being here illegally with expired invalid documents. The driving without insurance; how did he get his car registered? I have always thought that you had to show proof of insurance to register a vehicle in Virginia; and when your insurance expired the Department of Motor Vehicles were notified by the insurance company. I guess this law fell through the cracks too and failed the young girls also. Now that the accident has occurred who will pay for the damages; maybe the Mexican government will step in and pay for the damages and his legal fees.
makes me sick....
some people are just given way too many chances in this country that don't even deserve it. hes not even a u.s. citizen yet he got too much cushioning on his convictions. since immigration officials aren't taking care of illegal immigrants in a timely manner because they are so backed up. jail business owners who employ illegal immigrants.
What a terible thing tohappen
This is something that should never have happen, where did the ball drop, Why was his records not published? How couldbe in the US for seven years and not anyone knows, just maybe someone needs to check all the mexican rest, and see how many other people are here andnot suppose to be,. My heart goes out to these families, as it is too hard to bury your child, espically when they had just begun to live, My hat goes off to the father who wants to do something about it, and I feel you will get the support which you need, Something has to happen, and it has to start somewhere. Why not now?
Hits too close to home...
This is truly a tragedy for the families. My heart goes out to them, but know they are in God's hands. I have neices in that age bracket , and a Mother-n-law that works right there. It could of been them. It could of been" their" parents that was the cause of the accident. Why people think that it's okay to "have a few" at the neighborhood bar and get behind the wheel is something I will never understand. It seems such a shame that we wait untill someone is killed to get mad. We need to stay mad. Lock them up and throw the keys away.After the first offence, they should have to install a blow tube in which they have to pass in order for their cars to start. We should be reminded that it could happen to any of us at any time. Don't let your love ones leave home without knowing that you love them. It could be the last chance you have to tell them so.