It took 32 rescuers to free the two victims of Saturday's early-morning crash on Christoffersen Parkway, both pinned into their car following the high-speed single vehicle accident.
According to the Turlock Fire Department, the incident occurred at 4:41 a.m. Saturday morning, with the road still wet from rain. Upon the Fire Department's arrival on-scene, firefighters found evidence of the high-speed impact of a car into a large tree on the California State University, Stanislaus campus.
A Turlock Police Department investigation found that the green Acura Integra left the Christoffersen Parkway roadway, struck a lightpole, went through a fence at CSU Stanislaus, and was partially airborne as it struck the tree roof-first. The engine flew from the car and was seen lying on the other side of the tree.
One passenger, Ashlee Deminsky, 16, a Turlock High School student, was ejected from the car through the rear window and sustained serious but non life-threatening injuries. She was transported to the hospital by ambulance, and released before 8 p.m. Sunday.
The driver, Robert Penton, 17, a Johansen High School student, and other passenger, Tyler Brown, 19, a 2013 Denair High School graduate and Deminsky's boyfriend, were “severely” pinned into the car from the crash, however.
Freeing Penton and Brown required an “extremely complicated and technical extrication,” according to the Turlock Fire Department. That extrication involved four Turlock Fire Department engine companies, Turlock Rural Fire, multiple ambulances, two air ambulances, a tow truck, and multiple Turlock Police Department and CSU Stanislaus police units.
Despite the numerous personnel, it took more than an hour hour to free the victims. The operation was made even more difficult by the frigid, approximately 37 degree air, the fire department said.
Both Brown and Penton were transported by air ambulance to area hospitals immediately upon being freed.
Brown is still in the hospital at Memorial Medical Center. He broke his femur, and underwent an extensive surgery to repair it according to Jodi McClure, Penton's mother.
Penton remains in critical condition in the Intensive Care Unit. He underwent successful cardiac surgery to repair a torn aorta, but is in a medically-induced coma to give his body time to heal. His femur is also broken, but it is in traction until doctors are able to repair it, McClure said.
“My son is still in ICU but he's hanging in there and so are we,” McClure said. “The next couple days will be crucial for him and we won't know more until … the swelling in his brain starts to heal.”
Penton is an automotive enthusiast, and a member of several Honda-related Facebook groups.
Turlock police say that drugs and alcohol were not a factor in the solo vehicle accident, but that speed “definitely was.” The Turlock Police Department Major Accident Investigation Team is investigating the case.
Photo: David Fransen
4.30am? These kids were not being ‘good’ boys and girls. The crashed car probably was racing another car. The party where there was alcohol had just kicked the kids out. Where were the parents?
You are ignorant and don’t know the facts there was no racing involved or drinking or drugs get your facts before u post something u know nothing about
To those of you reading this article please keep your negative comments to yourselves. 1st off one the boys is a family member and 2nd there is still a young man who still needs our prayers for him and his family! It really don’t matter how ,what and why it happened , it happened that is all and it was a bad thing. So please think about what you would do if it was your family member before you say anything negative! Thank you and GOD Bless!
yeah, like they said drugs and alcohol were NOT a factor, do not jump to conclusions just because they were teens. they were graduates as well…not all teens live with their parents after highschool. dont bring them into it. quit with the discrimination and negativity, not all of us do drugs, go to parties, and get pregnant at 16. thanks.
I was with them hours before. no one was drinking at all that night and there was no racing.
not all of us do that you know
Super lucky. Based off the looks of the car I’m truly shocked they are alive.
…also where are my parents?
Prayers for these young people and for their families as they get through this horrific time.
I too seen the pictures of this accident and there is only God to thank that these kids made it through that. May His healing hand continue to rest upon them and heal them completely, and may the peace of God be on their family.
My prayers go out to the families of these young adults. Special prayers to the McClures as they continue to watch over their son while in a medical induced coma. The Lord works in mysterious ways, and he shall wrap his healing arms around Robert. God be with you all!
Please dont come on here talking sh** about my brother especially if your just assuming keep your damn thoughts to yourself because u obviously didnt read the article
Robert is a great kid! He was my sons umpire in Empire for baseball. His little brother played football with my son also and His Parents are awesome! We were taught as kids if you have nothing nice to say than keep it to yourself…. His family is already going thru enough they don’t need any ones opinion, all they need is hope and prayers!!!!
This happened to me once and i was sober. It just had rained and the roads were wet and just lost control. But it wasn’t anything like this though.
I too heard from kids who were at party that they were drinking. Why not realize these teens were out of control? Where are the parents? Why were they out at 4am? That is just crazy. These teens unfortunately did not plan on going to great colleges and becoming CEOs The future never looks kindly on our local kids.
Seriously? Teens do reckless things, including future CEOs, doctors and college students. Many of us also drank very much in college. These poor kids learned a hard lesson but don’t suggest they are hopeless just they made a serious mistake(s) in judgement. Have a little sympathy and recognition that kids do dumb things sometimes.
As a parent and a college professor who used to live in the area, I can understand why there are some who are posting concerns as to this accident. This accident is very worrisome. Sure it maybe easy to chalk up this incident as a ‘lesson to be learned’ and that these teens were just innocents out having fun at 4am. But the stakes are much higher today. Any credit card deliquiency, flunking out of school, inappropriate use of social media, a serious car accident with suspensions are all causes not to be hired! Today’s parents owe to their teens to show them how easy it is to destroy their futures with just one wrong decision. And to those who say there was no drinking or bad behavior, you are daydreaming. I agree with Mr New York to a large extent. Where were the parents and what are they going to do now?
Toxicology came back clean, as this and other articles have clearly stated. If you’re going to comment about an article, please read it first, particularly if you’re just here to be negative.