Shrine for teen crash victims to move

SANTA FE, NM (KRQE) - In the wake of the crash that killed four Santa Fe teenagers, city leaders are dealing delicately with complaints about a makeshift shine that sits on a historic statue near the plaza.

"This is kind of like our little sanctuary," said Sierra Clark, 15, who knew all four crash victims, memorialized by the shrine. "It's accessible; we can look at it any time we want."

When she looks at the items for her late friend Julian Martinez, she knows what every item and every bit of graffiti means.

"Rest in Peace Jesus, have fun in the afterlife, see you soon, I'll be back," Clark read from a graffiti message. "We called him Jesus because of his really long hair."

Martinez, 16, died in the July 28 collision southeast of Santa Fe along with Rose Simmons, 15, and Alyssa Trouw and Kate Klein, both 16. They were passengers in a car driven by Avree Koffman, 16, who is recovering from serious injuries.

The driver of the other vehicle, Scott Owens, 28, is believed to have been drunk when he crossed the center line on Old Las Vegas Highway into the path of Koffman's Subaru. He remains in jail charged with vehicular homicide.

Rose's father John Simmons was among those visiting the shrine in Cathedral Park Thursday.

"There's Rosie with her boyfriend," Simmons said. "I never saw that picture,"

He also found a letter his daughter wrote about her life's goals that now sits on the shrine near her picture.

"'I believe my calling is to save the planet,'" Simmons read. "'After I graduate from college, I want to join the Peace Corps. I would like to go to Africa or Latin America to help protect endangered species.'"

Santa Fe city leaders said they understand the enormous grief.

However because the statue of Santa Fe's founders is such an important part of city history, they've ordered the shrine be moved to the northwest corner of the park.

Some complained of the graffiti on the benches surround the monument. Others said the wilted flowers, beer bottles and cigarette packs are an eyesore.

"We're you ever a teenager?" Clark asked. "You know, people do stuff."

"This doesn't subtract from it if you ask me," Simmons added. "This adds to it because the kids personalized.

"This now means a lot more to them then it ever did before."

To help the kids, the city recorded a video and took pictures for a documentary on the makeshift shrine the city hopes to post on "YouTube."

Some of the kids will help design the new shrine hoping it gives them as much comfort as the one that now sits in the center of the park.

City leaders plan to move items from the shrine Sunday and begin washing off or painting over the graffiti next week.