Community mourns 4 teens laid to rest

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - The last memorial service for the four Santa Fe teens tragically killed last weekend was held on Sunday, bringing an end to an emotional week. 

The week's worth of funerals and memorials may all seem to blur together, from the glowing candles to the vibrant pictures filled with memories. However, the names are as vivid as the first time they were spoken by Undersheriff Robert Garcia.

“Rose Simmons, Julian Martinez, Alyssa Trouw and Kate Klien,” Garcia said.

Four lives that many said were taken too early. Rose Simmons was the youngest. She was only 15. Julian Martinez, 16, wanted to become a musician. Kate Klien, 16, wanted to go to Columbia or even Harvard. Alyssa Trouw would have turned 17 this July 4th, seven days after she was killed.

The fact that they are gone is still a shock to their families.

“That was his goals one of his goals, to make people laugh and make people happy,” Julian’s grandfather Anthony Baker said.

“She was my best friend, she was the best piano player I've ever seen,” Kate Klein’s friend Natalie Dunn said.

“I miss her more than I ever thought I could miss anything,” Rose’s father John Simmons said.

While the funerals have come to an end, the grief and the pain still lingers.

“I think some of it's settling in, the reality of it. I think there's some anger, there's some sorrow, there's disbelief,” Alyssa’s Trouw’s teacher Rudy Penczer said.

Anger, sorrow and disbelief describe the emotional cloud lingering after the horrific crash. Last Sunday the group of friends was killed in a wrong way crash. Police said the driver of the other car Scott Owens may have been drink.

Rose Simmons and Julian Martinez each attended Monte del Sol Charter School.

Alyssa Trouw and Kate Klein attended Santa Fe Preparatory School.

Avree Koffman, the only teen to survive the crash, is still recovering at UNM hospital.