Scott Crouch had a bad feeling when his son, Scott Jr., headed out Wednesday night to go dancing with friends. It was late, dark and rainy.
Just be safe, the father said. They hugged and traded "love ya's."
Crouch would soon hear sirens near his Carmichael home and the police helicopter overhead.
"Could it be those guys?" Crouch wondered. He text-messaged his son. No answer.
Pushing his worries aside, Crouch went to sleep. He awakened at 4 a.m. to the knock of a chaplain at his door.
Scott Allen Crouch, 18, a college student – described Thursday by his bereaved father as "an awesome kid … my pride and joy" – was dead.
An alleged drunken driver in a Chevy Tahoe broadsided a Honda CRV jammed with nine young friends at the intersection of Whitney and Eastern avenues in Arden Arcade.
Crouch, who was in the back seat, was pronounced dead at the scene. The eight other occupants were injured, most with serious head trauma.
California Highway Patrol officials said Bethann Colyer, 34, of Carmichael ran a red light on Whitney at an unknown speed at 10:50 p.m.
Colyer, who lives near the intersection, was treated for minor injuries, according to CHP spokeswoman Lizz Dutton. Colyer will be charged with vehicular manslaughter and felony drunken driving, Dutton said in a press statement.
State records show Colyer is co-licensee of Dubs Daily Dose Billiards Darts & More on Manzanita Avenue. Colyer could not be reached Thursday.
The driver of the Honda, Garron Engstrom, 18, of Sacramento, was treated at Sutter Roseville and released after suffering cuts to his hands and face, officials said.
Engstrom and one passenger, Jessica Mendoza, 18, of Gold River, were wearing seat belts. The other occupants were not, CHP officials said.
Mendoza was transported to Mercy San Juan Medical Center with massive head trauma, and was listed in critical condition Thursday night. Bart Kirby, 19, was transported to the hospital with a broken pelvis, lacerated liver and major head trauma. His listed condition Thursday night was critical.
Jason Doverspike, 18, of Carmichael was transported to Kaiser Permanente Medical Center North with head trauma, in stable condition. Jessica Rosser, 18, from Gold River, was admitted at Sutter Roseville with head pain, in serious condition.
Ian Smith, 18, of Carmichael was transported to UC Davis Medical Center with a broken neck. Benjamin Harrington, 18, of Auburn was taken to the medical center with major head trauma. Michael Hewitt, 20, of El Dorado Hills was transported to the medical center with broken ribs, collapsed lungs and head trauma. All were reported in serious condition at the medical center Thursday night.
The young people, several of them recent graduates of Del Campo High School, were headed to the Empire dance club downtown, friends said.
Friends and former classmates gathered at the crash site Thursday, placing flowers, photos and balloons on the sidewalk. By nightfall, about 125 of them had come to the intersection, clustering in quiet groups around small bonfires to keep warm. They held lighted candles as they maintained a somber, quiet vigil.
A large banner read: "Scott Crouch Jr., We Will Miss You."
"I'm telling you, a dad couldn't ask for anything better," said Crouch's father. "It's just a great show of support."
His son graduated with honors last year from El Camino High School's Eagle Polytechnic Institute, an engineering academy, and attended both American River and Cosumnes River colleges. He hoped to transfer to California Polytechnic University in San Luis Obispo.
"No way you couldn't love him," former high school classmate Natalie Lessa said. "Every day, you never saw him in a bad mood."
Dallas Pinnegar, a fellow church member of Smith's, said Smith had just gotten home for the holidays Tuesday from Brigham Young University. Pinnegar and other church members dropped by Smith's house to sing carols Wednesday just hours before the collision. He said he last saw a smiling Smith sitting on his front steps with family and friends.
"These are young people who are stellar in their accomplishments," said Naomi Harper, a Smith family friend.
"They are nice guys, smart, the whole gang," said Del Campo High School student Katie Kennedy.
At home Thursday afternoon, Crouch's parents met with a minister as they tried to comprehend their loss.
"He was just an awesome kid," said his dad. Crouch had coached his son's baseball teams at the ball field at that intersection. Father and son also shared golf and snowboarding.
"I've committed my life to raising him," he said. "He was my pride and joy."
He was polite, said his mother, Michelle Crouch. He never asked for anything, never expected anything.
"It's senseless," she said. "I just hope he didn't suffer."
Call The Bee's Tony Bizjak, (916) 321-1059. The Bee's Phillip Reese contributed to this report.
