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 Flowers, notes, mementos and messages written on the tree mark the place in the 1300 block of South Salt Pond Avenue where Christian Argueta died and Stephanie Rapp was mortally injured Thursday, July 3. (Eric Crump/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo] |
Greg Vaught was mowing his lawn at 2 p.m. Thursday afternoon, July 3, when he heard a "horrible boom."
"I hate to say it, but I'm glad I was in the back," he said Friday, July 4. "I thought about starting in the front."
 Christian Argueta |
Christian Argueta, 18, lay dead beside the vehicle. Stephanie Rapp and Derian Martin, both 15, were badly hurt.
"It's the last thing you expect to see," Vaught said.
 Stephanie Rapp |
Vaught said a young man knocked on his door Thursday evening and asked if he could place a memorial candle by the tree.
Vaught agreed.
"Until there's a place to memorialize them, this is the best place," Vaught said.
After the candle was placed, flowers began to arrive, Vaught said.
"I just let it grow," he said.
And as the flowers, notes and other mementos accumulated, so did friends and family of the dead teens.
"We had 40 people at 2 a.m.," he said.
Groups of mourners congregated on Vaught's lawn throughout the weekend.
A candlelight memorial was held Friday at 9 p.m. that reportedly was attended by about 300 people.
Funeral services were held Monday afternoon for Argueta. Services for Rapp are scheduled for Tuesday at 1 p.m. See page 10 for details.
Contact Eric Crump at marshalleditor@socket.net
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Little Leon, I am so sorry for your families loss. I am keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers. Thank you for the strong message about seat belt safety. I am sure it will save someones life. I love you.
Your cousin
Jamie P Sause
I Just Wanted To Say RIP To The Ones Who Lost There Lives It's Sad And I Also Feel So So So Sorry For The Parents I Know Life Happens Like This But No Parent Should Lose There Child At All
No Matter What And YOU DO NOT HAVE TO KNOW THE VICTEM TO CARE ABOUT THEMi dont no the teens but know one of the mothers jan i had her for a teacher in high school so i send my sympthy to her and the other mothers and fathers of the teens
As a family member of stephanies' "step father" Jeff Crawford, My heart broke the moment I heard the news of this accident. I am so sorry to the families of the two who were lost. My heart goes out to Jan and the kids aswell as my family who all knew stephanie for the great young lady that she was, a week prior to this I overheard Jeff speaking so fondly of her. God rest her soul and keep her wrapped warm in his arms, let him warm Jan and all of her family, stay strong and know that it's okay to cry even if your walking through walmart and you see something that reminds you of her, my prayers go out to you, I wish I could do more.
Asfar as Christian and his family, I wish you all the best and well wishes as I do Stephanies' family, I didn't know him or of him untill this tragic day and it's just so horrible to hear of young lives cut so short. Know there are people who care and are here to support you as you go on with life without the one you loved so much. Keep your head up and if nothing else, in your childs memory make it a point to stess to other parents to make sure their kids know how important it is to not only drive safely but to wear your seatbelts when you drive down the street.
There are many rumors going around the town of Marshall, and somehow many may or may not ever be answered, the one young lady who survived, god bless you child and take this and learn from it, someone had you in thier hands when this accident occured learn from it and pass on the importance of safety and awareness as other young people start to drive. I shed a deaf ear to the rumors, sure I hear them but I choose like many others should to forget that I heard them, I believe that there are only three children who know how everything went down and how this happened, as I am sure that Stephanie's and Christian's families have so many unanswered questions that they will never get to hear the answers to, the important thing to remember is that all of our kids need to be informed over and over like a record player stuck the importance of safety when they get into a car wether it be behind the wheel or in the back, my four year old told me a few weeks ago that it's okay not to wear his belt because it's just across town, this not only made me horribly upset but also scared me because sure you might be aware of your vehichle, but you dont know what everyone driving past you has going on or how thier day has been. Please stess that your kids and all of your family be safe and aware as they drive and get into a car, repitition a little harder might lead to less horrible tragities like this one.
God bless the families of these three teen, keep them in your arms and help them as they go throught the tough times ahead. Help Derian to know your with her to help her stay strong.
Very sorry to hear about the accident I didnt know the boy or girl very well but knew the family very well Darrin mother was a very close friend to me and My Husband we will always be there for her. We will keep Christian and Stephanie in our prayers and know that there family will also. I can only think what they are going thou. Our prayers and Though will be with them in the days head. We love you all.
Both Christian and Stephanie were great people. Christian always walked around singing and made people laugh. Stephanie was on my volleyball team she was a great sports person and she was nice to everyone on the team. Someone already said that she was friendly with everyone which was true. And i prayer for the family and really close people to Stephanie and Christian both. And i dont really know Derian but i wish her the best of luck to get through all of this i wouldnt be able to imagine what she is going through just stay strong.
Rest In Peace Stephanie and Christian everyone loves and misses you both.
hearing this shocked me to no end. i never really got to know stephanie, but i saw her every day. i saw how she always had a positive outlook on life and how she would stand up for what she thought was right. i always imagined that i would talk to her next year, but i learned that im moving back, but i always saw her lighting up the hallways of Marhall Senior High. i only hope that anybody who reads this will realize how dangerous vehicles are. they aren't toys. there's a test for a reason. wear your seatbelts. that might be you someday in the future
Leon that was a beautiful memorial to you soon-to-be stepdaughter! You have made us (as parents) remember just what is truly important in our lives & that is our children. My daughters mean EVERYTHING to me, and because of this tragedy, I will do my best to always keep them safe from harm. We all take for granted the very fact that we can SEE our children, HUG our children, & LOVE our children each and every day! We don't think about the fact that it can all be stripped away in just the "blink of an eye!" I always have had my girls wear their seat belts on the highways, as you never really feel like in town there can't be much harm/damnage to be done. I was however wrong, and I will now make sure they are always wearing them! I am praying for your family that you have with your fiance, as well as the family that I know (your parents & sisters, etc.!!) Thanks for the beautiful message, it was very heartwarming!
To everyone who has posted on here I sincerely want to think you from our family. Derian is my baby cousin and she is going through a very rough time right now, trying to cope with all that has happened. She is doing good, she will be coming home in the next couple of days, she will have to do several months of rehab for her leg cause it was badly broken.
For those of you who have posted comments that are not so nice, you all need to really look at what has happened and get all the facts of the story straight before you go passing judgement on the kids and the families that were involved. Stephanie and Christian were great kids and their memories will live on forever. I truly feel for their families, and they should know if they need anything our family is more than willing to help them.
Yes, Derian survived this and she knows that she had an angel with her when this happened and that she is very fortunate to still be here. All the nasty rumors and what not going around need to stop, Derian will be coming home and she doesn't need to come home to people being negative and throwing blame around. She is going through alot and she needs support from everyone not negativity.
To Stephanie and Chrisitan, we are all truly saddened by the loss of two great kids and to the families our prayers are with you. Derian has repeatedly said that she loves you both and you were great friends. RIP...Stephanie and Christian.
yes derian did lose 2 of her best friends and she is gonna go through alot but she is a very strong girl n i wish her the best and she is very forunate to survive this tragic accident and i also heard she was doin very well by her family!!!! i love ya girl
I heard directly from a friend visiting her that Derian may get to come back to the Marshall area on Monday, her surgery went well, she was up today and will spend a couple months in rehabiliation for her leg. By the grace of god, this young lady was spared as was her family the loss of a child. God be with you always Derian, your family and the families of Stephanie and Christian. I understand there are a lot of nasty rumors going around concerning Derian, she is hurting too! She is a fifteen year old girl who has many hard days ahead of her. Not only physically, but emotionally and psychologically as well. Let's support this young lady and her family as well as the families who have suffered great losses. She may still be here, but she lost two of her very good friends in a very tragic accident that she is sure to relive daily. I am sure she is grieving along with all. We are ALL God's children and we should be there for each other.
Has any one heard how the other young girl is doing ?
wow. leon that was intense this is nichole johns ne time i think of u n steph or u talkin about her all i can do is think about how we all went n her moms classroom right before lunch w steph something so small is one of the biggest things i will miss!!! my prayers go out to you guys this is really tough on everyone stephanie was an amazing person that always cheered everyone up sure she had her downs but NO ONE is perfect!!!!! i jus want u to kno that you guys are in my prayers n thoguhts everyday!!!!!! n all the great stuff u said about her was not an exaggeration she was that n a million things more which everyone who knew her knows that! she will be missed SOOO much n im soooo sorry that u guys had to go through something this tremendous!!!!!!!!!
I want to echo the sincerity and gratitude of Stephanie's Sedalia Family, and their shock and concerns as well. All of Stephanie's family and I ask that everyone please honor Steph's and Christian's memory responsibly.
Stephanie's mother, Jan, and I want to extend our deep appreciation to Mr. Vaught for allowing his property to be used as a memorial to these children. Mr. Vaught has been gracious and understanding in this time, allowing unrestricted visits to The Tree at virtually all hours of the day and night. In addition, we thank him so much for rushing to these kids and doing what we truly know was his best to help and comfort them until the paramedics arrived.
Also, to Pam Urtz, thank you for everything you did to help these kids. It helps to know they were comforted and cared for in their final moments.
Additionally, we want to extend our thanks to the residents of the area on and around Salt Pond. The memorial service held there last evening at The Tree was attended by almost 300 people. We know this congested the area roads, and you folks have been so gracious and understanding.
We will do our best to properly thank everyone in the printed edition of the Democrat News. So many have done so much in the last two days, we will likely forget someone. Please know that all of your thoughts, prayers, help, and support have not gone unnoticed or unappreciated.
I loved Stephanie with all my heart. Her smile and her cheeriness are irreplaceable. Jan and I want everyone to know that Stephanie fought very hard to survive for over six long hours. We encourage everyone to remember the real Stephanie--the girl who could laugh at a rainy day and run outside to play in it; the girl who was a friend to everyone, regardless of where they came from; the beautiful young lady with a smile the sun shined from. That is the legacy Stephanie leaves us. Those are the memories you all deserve.
In closing, Stephanie may very well be with us still if she had been wearing her seat belt. Jan and I beg you--even if it is just a drive around the block--please, PLEASE buckle your seat belts and strap your young children in approved car seats. We ask that no one forget the life you save may be your own. And to the young people out there who may read this, we beg you never take a chance that may cause your parents this kind of pain.
God bless each and every one of you.
We would just like to try and somehow say thank you to all those who came to this serivce it was overwhelming to us and it was exactly what stephanie was all about,her friends and family.
Stephanie was loved and cherished by so many, and the kindness of the people in Marshall and Sedalia has been such a big support to all of us.
We would like to say, that we were in shock today when we drove back upon the site of the accident to find amongest the flowers, cards, teddy bears and more that someone so insensitive would leave beer cans and cigars behind. This was totally upsetting to us and was no way to honor these children. We quickly removed these items and we so hope that anyone who reads this or visits again will have the respect of all families involved.
If anyone want to leave comment on these teens go to www.findagrave.com and find them on it and you can leave notes or other. the website is free to use and you can sign up to be a member free.I am using this website to put my Family ,Friends and others on it.
This is so horrible. I can not begin to imagine the grief and pain of loosing a child.
My prayer is for the families to accept GOD's grace and talk to him. He will shine for you. To embrace and help heal eachother. The reason's why would be so important for the future of their friends.
To their friends, I pray that you realize what imact this tragidy has on their families. Put yourselves in the shoes of these lives cut short and turn it around. There is so much more for each of you. Live for LIFE.
so sorry to hear that.never knew either of them but both of my brothers were really good friends with christian.. r.i.p
Rest in Peace Christian AKA Tazzy
and Stephanie. You'll always be in our hearts.