by Amanda Stutevoss
Editor in Chief
One University of La Verne student was killed and three were injured in a car accident Monday night on Arrow Highway in San Dimas.
According to Los Angeles County Sheriff’s reports, Mazen Walid Saab, 18, was killed when the car he was a passenger in hit a tree after spinning out of control while going east on Arrow, close to Cataract Avenue.
Deputies were called to the scene at approximately 8:50 p.m. Rescue officials tried to perform CPR on Saab but were unable to revive him. Saab was pronounced dead at the scene.
Driver Dro Hovanessian was listed in guarded condition Tuesday after he and passenger Michelle Marie Baccus were airlifted from the site to Los Angeles County/USC Medical Center, where Baccus was treated and released. The third passenger, Ian J. Thornburn, was taken from the scene to San Dimas Community Hospital, and was treated for a broken arm.
Saab, an international student, was born in Houston, Texas, but he lived most of his life in Beirut, Lebanon. Saab was a business major and had aspirations to help his father, a businessman in Beirut, after he graduated from college.
The four students were traveling at a high speed on Arrow Highway between Cataract Avenue and San Dimas Avenue in San Dimas.
Saab, who according to police reports was wearing his seatbelt, was riding in the backseat of a BMW that belonged to Hovanessian.
According to deputies, Baccus was the front seat passenger and Thornburn was in the backseat with Saab.
“I join the University of La Verne community in mourning the tragic death of our student,” said President Steve Morgan in a Tuesday e-mail.
“My heart goes out to his family, friends and loved ones. A loss of this dimension touches all of us. As we seek to understand a tragedy such as this, I hope that we will reach out to comfort each other and give thanks for the caring community we share.”
“In the short time that he was here he made an impact on the lives of others,” said Phil Hofer, director of International and Study Abroad Center.
The office of student affairs has planned a vigil that will take place at 11:30 a.m. today in the Sneaky Park Amphitheater.
Saab’s father and some family members will be present. Students are encouraged to bring written words and thoughts to the family, which will be collected at the service.
Gloria Diaz and Alejandra Molina also contributed to this story.
