Memorial tonight for USC student

A memorial service is scheduled tonight for Adrianna Bachan, the 18-year-old USC student who was killed by a hit-and-run driver. The memorial will be at 7 p.m. at St. Anthony’s Croatian Catholic Church at 712 N. Grand Ave.

Another memorial service is scheduled for 1 p.m. Wednesday in Santa Barbara at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish on East Valley Road.

Bachan and a friend, 19-year-old Marcus Garfinkle, were walking back to USC’s campus about 3 a.m. March 29 when a driver struck them as they crossed Jefferson Boulevard at Hoover Street. Bachan was killed and Garfinkle, who was carried a distance on the hood of the car before a passenger threw him off, remains hospitalized with two broken legs and other injuries.

Claudia Cabrera, 30, of South Los Angeles was later arrested after a massive search by scores of detectives who were aided by a $235,000 reward offered in the case.

Donations can be made to the Adrianna Bachan Memorial Fund, c/o West End Partners, 1482 East Valley Road, Suite #245, Santa Barbara, CA 93108.

-- Ari B. Bloomekatz

Comments

[steve rodriguez]

Where is Claudia Cabrera's husband? He has proven himself to be a real Latino man!!!!!!!

[Chuch Wavy Dean]

Sad and tragic loss. The actions of the people who hit her and her friend shock the consciences of decent people everywhere. I hope Claudia Cabrera and her equally worthless husband are locked away for a long time, because what they did makes them a serious danger to the community.

[gknoll]

Is USC putting pressure on LATIMES to keep the story out of the headlines?

Why no photo (mug shot) of Claudia Cabrera? No information on who has the infant - protective services or did the husband skip out with the baby?

Heinous crimes like this one usually give info on the family members etc.....

[flinker]

So very sad for everyone. Nothing can bring Adrianna back & Claudia's life is ruined.

[Bret]

Claudia ruined her own life. Why no photos? And is her kid with the husband?

[Amazed]

Why hasn't the LA Times run photos of the Claudia Cabrera? No booking photos, no photos from her court appearance? Why would the LA Times shield her from the public?

This reflects a severe lack of journalistic integrity.

[R. Galvez]

One canno help it, but feel the sadness of this traffic accident., vehicular manslaughter, killing or however anybody would like to call it. What many might be missing though is the tragedy this accident bring it about to the lives of those involved in it.
By no means I am trying to dismiss the the culpability of those who caused it. It is a terrible thing for adriana to have died of such a horrible death, and equally terrible for Garfinkle. One can only imagine how pinful it must feel having both legs brken in several parts.
I also feel the loss of Adrianas parents, family members and others around of such a bright, but shorten life.
One will find guilt and be ready to charge and penalized those who created the tragedy.
But I feel that we miss the big picture here. In the end everything will come to light surrounding this case. The media portrays individuals either in a positive way, or negative. In this case I think the media is using its power to discredit those involved in the case by keeping then in the dark and exposing them in very bad spots. The goals of the press is then lost when the information is side-track, just to publish and make assumption on the incident.
I urge the oress to present facuts and show pictures of the person who created this tragedy. The press does not necesseraly need to award this person, but state facts and bring this personj to life. Allow the audience to judge them culprits without having negative press.