Family loses daughter, job, home all in the same week

[BadDog40]

Very sad. If you're in a position to help out these poor souls I can't think of anyone that needs it more.


AURORA - After losing a job, a daughter and a home in one week, an Aurora family is asking: Why?"

The night before Thanksgiving, 15-year-old Kayla Freeman was in Missouri spending time with her dad. They were on their way to church, when Missouri State Patrol says Kayla's father tried to pass another vehicle.

As he moved into the other lane, Missouri State Patrol says another vehicle traveling in the opposite direction slammed into Kayla's father's car. Kayla was killed instantly.

Miles away in Colorado, Kayla's mother, Dawn Linstrom, learned of her daughter's death.

"It was the hardest thing you can ever see someone go through," Ruth Castellano, Kayla's aunt, said.

Dawn Linstrom and her daughter were close. Castellano says they were so close, you could barely separate them. She says it was difficult to hear her sister cry.

"That cry alone is the worst thing you'll ever hear from her. Just crying, wanting her baby back," Castellano said.

The crash happened Wednesday evening. Two nights later, Linstrom decorated her room with pictures of her daughter. She lit them by candlelight.

When guests arrived at her home, Linstrom went upstairs. She left the candles behind. About 15 minutes later, she smelled smoke and then saw flames.

"The entire house was engulfed," Castellano said. "There was no way to put it out."

Less than 48 hours after her daughter was killed, Linstrom lost her home.

more at http://www.9news.com/news/article/232729/339/Family-loses-daughter-job-home-in-a-week-

[Tunkamerica]

1. A fund has been set up at Wells Fargo Banks in Colorado.

jeez.

[Javaman]

2. so much tragety...

all due to negligence.

I'm truly sorry for all their losses, but honestly, trying to pass a car by going into oncoming traffic? Leaving a candle to burn with no one in the room?

[snooper2]

3. Jesus H. Christ I was trying to keep my posty mouth shut

But WTF...do people even think?

[Javaman]

4. thinking has been replaced by reality tv.

[LanternWaste]

5. There certainly cannot be any other reason

There certainly cannot be any other reason this happened than reality television... :shrug:

[TheWraith]

30. Glad to see I'm not the only one rolling their eyes.

Really, blaming reality TV just comes off as ridiculous, like Pat Robertson blaming hurricanes on lesbianism.

News for everyone reading: people do risky things. Every single person reading this has probably done something risky in the not too distant past. Walking a bad neighborhood alone late at night, falling asleep with a candle burning, having sex without a condom, driving too fast, whatever. Chances are that you got away with it. Most people get away with it, most of the time. This story is the far end of the bell curve, where people had risks backfire on them not once, but multiple times in a short period. That doesn't make them some kind of special class of slack-jawed yokels to look down on as the "great unwashed." It makes them the victims of probability.

[Javaman]

58. How often do you take risks in your car

with a loved one, especially a child, in the passanger seat?

[TheWraith]

65. How often do you?

The answer is, much more often than you probably realize. It just doesn't seem that risky at the time to try to catch a light, or pass someone when it looks clear at first glance. Many things never seem that risky until you hit the bad end of the odds.

[Dreamer Tatum]

51. Case in point: yours. nt

[Javaman]

59. um, okay...

:shrug:

[Bunny]

7. Because people who are devastated by grief always think

clearly and rationally. May your incredible powers never be tested.

[Javaman]

11. not the guy who drove into on coming traffic to pass a car.

all the other stuff hadn't happened yet. And if it did, grief doesn't trump safety as an excuse.

it was blatant stupidity.

[Bunny]

27. Will Rogers never met you, did he?

[Javaman]

60. oh how witty.

so I'm supposed to feel sorry for the guy who killed his daughter by acting wrecklessly?

wow.

[Dems2002]

29. Sad...

The car accident wasn't the mom's or the daughter's fault. That was the dad. The candles...yeah, not the brightest, but following such a tragic loss, who the hell is thinking clearly. The loss of photos and videos...that's hard to describe how tragic. I wonder if they had any electronic devices recovered. It's expensive, but good computer folks might be able to recover some of this. That'll be worth a lot.

[Javaman]

61. I will certanly cut the mom some slack.

devistated by the loss of her daughter.

But certainly not the dad.

He took a really stupid risk with his daughters life.

[LanternWaste]

8. a loss may be mourned despite its cause.

I imagine that for many people, a tragic loss may be mourned despite and without implication of cause.

I suppose it comes down to which we focus on more-- empathy for the tragedy or mere blame. Although I do realize the sense of self-validation we get when pointing out the fault in others which in no way affects our own lives.

I'd guess that's part and parcel of human nature...

[Draill]

26. Great post, LanternWaste

[Lyric]

9. Have a little compassion.

People don't think clearly or make good decisions when they're grieving a loss, and these people were grieving several huge losses at one time. The Dad had just lost his job, so it wouldn't surprise me if he wasn't exactly in the best shape for making good driving choices. Then the Mom, who'd just lost her family's financial security AND her daughter, made yet another bad choice. I doubt if the mother was even entirely SANE at the moment, to be honest.

People do crazy shit when they're grieving that hard. If you can't find a shred of compassion inside for them, at least have the decency to criticize them somewhere else. Jesus.

[Javaman]

12. I do have compassion, but let's also look at the reasons why it happened.

the house wouldn't have burned down(because no candle would have been lit in memory for the daughter lost) if the father hadn't driven into on coming traffic to pass a car.

I feel sorry for the dad, he now has to live with his poor driving decision and how it lead to a series of truly unfortunate events.

[redqueen]

15. +1

Compassion and empathy seem to be in very short supply these days.

[closeupready]

10. Wow. Did you invent tackiness?

nt

[Javaman]

13. No, but I enjoy it.

it's not tacky pointing out how everything occurred.

I did say it was a tragedy, but am I supposed to feel sorry for someone who brought it all upon themselves by driving into oncoming traffic?

[noiretextatique]

16. yes, you are

and yes, it is tacky to keep trying to blame these people for the mistakes they made. people, especially traumatized people, make mistakes, and accidents happen.

[Javaman]

25. Yup accidents due happen.

but this guy, riding with his daughter in the car, decided to take a chance by risking both his and her life by trying to pass a car in on coming traffic.

That's not an accident. An accident would be he was passing the other car in the passing lane and an on coming car crossed the line and hit him. That's an accident.

What this guy did was extremely dangerous and incredibly foolish.

[uppityperson]

32. How do you pass someone on a 2 lane road without going in the oncoming traffic lane?

2 lanes. No passing lane. How do you pass someone? If you believe every road has a passing lane, you are wrong.

"That's not an accident"? You are saying he drove into a head on collision on purpose?

Good lord, you are a real piece of work here.

[Javaman]

43. if there is a double yellow line...

then you don't pass, it's really that simple.

if the father had observed patience, his daughter would still be alive.

choosing to cross into oncoming traffic to pass someone while having a double yellow line, is against the law were I come from.

Yes, it was on purpose. Are you claiming he drove into oncoming traffic to pass another vehicle by accident? that's a heck of a stretch.

[uppityperson]

44. Where does it say he crossed on a double yellow line?

[Javaman]

45. if no double line, then it's his complete failure to observe oncoming traffic.

Look, we can go on and on, but no amount of arguing will change my position. his poor daughter died because the guy was a terrible driver who took chances with his daughters life.

He has to live with that for the rest of his life, but that doesn't absolve him from fucking up.

you may now respond to keep this, otherwise completely pointless thread, going.

your turn.

[uppityperson]

47. No evidence he crossed on a double yellow line? Thank you. Yes, he fucked up. No one is

saying he didn't. Things happen and in this case, the accidents were tragic. I feel for the family.

[Javaman]

50. okay, you win?

:shrug:

the guy fucked up. Point to me where I said any different?

I just don't get the outpouring of faux grief for a guy who fucked up and killed his daughter which, in turn, set in motion his house being burned down by a wife who left a lit candle unattended.

[uppityperson]

52. It was his ex-wife's house, the dead girl's house. We feel sorry for the girl and the mom.

Obviously you don't.

Nothing about who "wins", simply wanted to check about the double yellow line since I hadn't seen that in any article. Thank you for sharing how you feel.

[Javaman]

55. oh really.

Huh, thank you for being the prognosticator of all things moral.

I feel sorry for the little girl.

I don't feel sorry for the halfwit parents.

dad kills her in a wreck and the mom burns down the house.

[FedUpWithIt All]

69. Don't feel sorry for them then but do you have to shit all over a thread of people who do?

Some of us are empathetic enough to realize that we, ourselves, could easily be on the wrong end of a tragic circumstance and feel for this family who suffered so deeply.

[uppityperson]

70. Happy to point out your mistakes, we all make them. Bless your little heart.nt

[BadDog40]

17. Anyone that would make such remarks

most likely has very limited life experience which makes you incapable of understanding and having empathy of someone in this situation. Either that or you're the first perfect human ever.

[Javaman]

24. LOL

nice try.

but fail.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

28. Heartless (redacted)

Do you have anyozne that you love? Then (redacted).

(edited to redact to avoid certain deletion--but you still deserved it)

[Javaman]

42. I have plenty of people I love...

and as for myself, I know enough not to drive into oncoming traffic and put them at risk if they are riding with me.

And if someone I know drove into oncoming traffic and killed either themselves or someone in the car with them, I would feel sorry for the person who lost their life but not the person who caused it.

Perhaps all the faux outrage over my comments are regarding the over-site on my part that I didn't state that felt sorry for the little girl. That was a complete needless loss of life.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

64. My outrage was and is real. Not faux, or even the English 'false'.

[redqueen]

14. Trying to pass a car by going into oncoming traffic?

That's how you are meant to pass on many interstates (and other two-lane roads as well). He obviously used poor judgment, but this isn't so amazingly incredulous as you and at least one other person are making it out to be.

On a two-lane road, when there are broken stripes, passing (yes, by going momentarily into the lane meant for oncoming traffic) is allowed. If there are two stripes, one broken and one unbroken, that means you can pass if you're driving on the side of the broken stripes.

[Javaman]

48. I live in Texas. We have plenty of two lane roads here...

I don't pass without properly observing oncoming traffic, I don't pass on a hill or a curve, I don't pass at night and I don't pass during inclement weather.

That said, this guy didn't properly observe oncoming traffic and as a result put his and his daughters life at risk.

Sadly, she lost her life because of his incredibly awful driving skills.

[FedUpWithIt All]

71. We live in an area

where all of the highways and most shopping areas are only accessible after traveling 30+ miles on two lane roads that are nearly always either hilly or curved. I can completely understand how an accident like this could happen without considering the father irresponsible.

[NutmegYankee]

21. Wow! Assholery on a new level.

All humans make mistakes. And MOST humans have empathy rather than contempt.

[Javaman]

46. Thank you! and how is your day?

A mistake is one thing,but this guy took a chance with his daughters life by not properly observing oncoming traffic.

He lost, and he lost his daughter by his colossally bad driving skills.

I have sympathy for the daughter but not for the guy.

[uppityperson]

33. How can you pass on a 2 lane road without going into oncoming traffic lane? HOW?

You are "truly sorry for all their losses"? :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes:

[REP]

34. The #1 rule of passing on a 2-lane highway: when in doubt, DON'T PASS

I am very familiar with those 2-lane Missouri highways; some have good visibility; some don't (and have clearly marked 'no passing' zones). I have a pretty good idea what happened, and yes, Daddy is a jackass (not the recently unemployed stepfather who also lost his house when the girl's mother set it afire).

[uppityperson]

35. Of course. What are you talking about "daddy is a jackass....."?

[uppityperson]

36. Other articles say he lost control of the car, slid off the road. Pickup tried to swerve but hit

them. Do you know them?

[LisaL]

37. He slid off the road after trying to pass another car.

"The accident happened when Freeman tried to pass another vehicle and lost control of his car. A westbound 2000 GMC Sonoma driven by Ethan L. Dade, 19, of Nevada, swerved to avoid Freeman's car but collided with it when both vehicles went off the roadway, the patrol said."
http://www.news-leader.com/article/20111125/NEWS01/111250340/Miller-teenager-died-in-crash?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Special%20Reports|s

[uppityperson]

38. Yes, I read that. Sorry, I left out "trying to pass another car", meant to write the whole

thing but missed that. thanks for the correction, addition.

[NutmegYankee]

39. I routinely drive two lane roads also.

In the rural parts of Connecticut it's almost all there is, with nice hills, curves, and large trees right at the edge of the roadway to make it even more difficult. Accidents happen because humans are humans, though sometimes it isn't just the passers fault. There have been numerous occasions someone has illegally sped up when I or others were passing them, making the situation far more dangerous. What really ticks me off is I do not tailgate and always leave a decent following distance, so I don't get the aggressive attempt to prevent me or others from passing.

[baldguy]

49. Herman Cain, is that you?

[Javaman]

56. no, and I don't play him on tv either...

if you read my other threads you will see that I feel sorry for the little girl who lost her life but not for the dad whose poor judgement of trying to pass someone without checking oncoming traffic let to her death or the mom who left an unattended lit candle which resulted in the house being burned down.

[TwilightGardener]

53. As sad as this situation is, I agree--dad basically killed his daughter, mom

burned her own house down. All except possibly the job loss could have been prevented.

[Javaman]

57. Thanks.

that's all I'm trying to say.

[WildNovember]

66. Passing by going to the lane going the opposite direction is the usual way

of passing on two-lane roads. I doubt he saw the oncoming traffic.

[lonestarnot]

6. OMG.

[jstu4]

18. thanks

As a neighbor of this devastated family (who was gathering in my home while their home burned down), thank you for your care. For those of you who are condemning this family for "poor choices"...really?
It seems there's some misunderstanding. It was Kayla's father in Missouri who got in the car accident that caused his daughter's death. This family in Aurora is Kayla's mom and stepdad. They received the news about their daughter's death and were in the midst of grieving that loss when they lost their home and all their possessions. It is sad to see that some of you are so lacking in compassion and kindness in the midst of such a tragic situation.
For those of you who care, thank you on behalf of this family. If there's anything you can do to help support them, I know they would be incredibly grateful.

[jstu4]

20. needs

By the way, this couple has a 10 year old boy and 3 month old baby girl. If you have any clothing, furniture, etc.. that you are willing to donate to them, please let me know.
Thanks.

[closeupready]

54. Thanks for posting. Kicking so others can see your post.

nt

[BadDog40]

22. Her pain is only beginning

As someone who has personally experienced losing a child I can unfortunately say it will be years before the mom will even begin to feel any sense of normalcy in her life, it is not something I would wish on my worst enemy. The last thing I would've wanted or could've dealt with on top of that is losing everything and being homeless, hopefully they had insurance.

[kbrown]

68. Donations

My job wanted to collect any items the family might need. What items are needed and how would we be able to get them to the family. Thank you.

[Pithlet]

19. I can't imagine.

If someone wrote this as a plot, people would say it was ridiculous, that could never happen. Just awful. That poor family.

[Papagoose]

23. Not sure what is more upsetting...

The story itself or the fact that the family would come under attack this fast for their perceived negligence. I'm fairly sure nobody here knows all of the circumstances, and I'm damn sure that everyone here knows that the media isn't going to bother reporting it in any real detail other than the cursory story already offered.

I hope these parents find the strength they will need moving forward.

[LisaL]

31. My neighbor's house also went up in flames due to a candle.

[csziggy]

40. For those blaming the father for Kayla's death, the accident was more complicated

Than indicated in the OP linked article.

Here is an article excerpt describing the accident:

An off-road collision Wednesday evening killed a Miller teen and injured another.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports, 35-year-old Miller resident Daniel C. Freeman was driving a 1990 Mercury Grand Marquis east on Missouri Route 96 when he attempted to pass another vehicle. As he attempted to speed pass the vehicle he lost control causing the Mercury to go off the left side of the road.

Nevada resident Ethan L. Dade, 19, was traveling west in a 2000 GMC Sonoma when Mr. Freeman went off the road. Mr. Dade attempted to avoid a collision and swerved, which caused him to go off the side of the road. About 5:15 p.m. at an unreleased location he collided with the Mercury.

More: http://findmyaccident.com/missouri/2011/11/28/kayla-freeman-15-dies-in-missouri-route-96-off-road-collision/

Another article about the accident: http://www.news-leader.com/article/20111123/NEWS01/111123021/Miller-teen-killed-crash-near-Mount-Vernon

While road conditions are not described, I wonder if they were a contributory cause since both vehicles involved lost control. Maybe there was water, loose material or something else that made the road unexpectedly hazardous.

There is no indication in the articles that either driver was cited for the accident.

[treestar]

62. Fault for the accident definitely sounds

like it needs investigation.

[onlyone]

41. very sad story

This story is very sad. Dawn Linstrom did not actually have custody of her daughter. Her daughter lived in Missouri with her dad and brother for at least the last eight years. Very tragic, but I don't know why Kayla's aunt would say you couldn't separate her from her mother. She lived full time with her dad, not here in Aurora.

[gumrainbows3]

72. sad story all around

Yep that's right..her father had custody of her and her brother Nicholas, age 14, and has taken care of them ever since Dawn abandoned them with him when they were both little. She has given up her parental righs to both children. Nicholas isn't even mentioned as being her son even though he was severely injured in this horrible accident. Kayla was trying to have a relationship with her mother and had visited her here in Colorado for a couple of weeks this past summer, the first visit since the custody dispute was settled which gave her father full custody, but Kayla and her mother were certainly not "hard to separate" by any means.

[treestar]

63. The candle thing is very unfortunate

There should have been someone else around to take care of the grieving lady and protect her from such decisions.

[whatchamacallit]

67. Man...

... :cry: