`I WILL NEVER FORGET YOU'; STUDENTS MOURN DEATH OF SOFTBALL STANDOUT.

Byline: Teresa Jimenez Daily News Staff Writer

Friends of Saugus High School senior Lauren Blaire were overwhelmed with grief Monday over the death of their classmate, a standout softball player who was killed Sunday in a collision with a driver investigators suspect of being drunk.

Former teammate Nicole Giordano, who now attends the University of Arizona but was home with her family when the tragedy occurred, described Blaire as both fun and kind.

``Lauren was awesome. She was always the one that made everyone laugh,'' Giordano said. ``She was always positive. She was just great and so much fun to be around.''

Giordano said she and Blaire had played softball together since they were 10 and met up again as teammates at Saugus High for two years. Giordano said she had heard that several colleges were asking about Blaire and were preparing to make offers.

``Someone called to tell me about the accident, and I didn't believe it,'' Giordano said. ``It always happens to the good people.''

Friends adorned the collision site, at Bouquet Canyon Road and Plum Canyon Road in Saugus, with candles, flowers, favorite pictures and messages written in chalk.

``You were like a sister to me,'' a message from Amber said. ``I will never forget you.''

After school Monday, Blaire's friends joined together for a candlelight vigil.

Blaire, 18, played on the school's softball team the past three years and expected to return when the 1998 season opens next month, her coach Ron Hilton said.

``It's a tough day,'' Hilton said. ``She was a great kid, bottom line.''

Though the high school had a winter dance Saturday night, Blaire did not attend and spent the evening with friends, authorities said.

Blaire had just dropped a friend off in Canyon Country and was heading to her home near the high school when she was hit, said Deputy Mike Shapiro, a traffic investigator for the Santa Clarita Valley sheriff's station.

Blaire was preparing to make a left turn from Plum Canyon Road to the southbound side of Bouquet Canyon Road in an Acura Integra at 1:48 a.m. Sunday when James Bent, 29, ran a red light and careened into her with his Toyota 4-Runner, Shapiro said.

Blaire was killed instantly, authorities said.

Bent was charged with vehicular manslaughter and driving under the influence of alcohol causing death, and is being held in jail on $1 million bail, Shapiro said. He is scheduled to be arraigned today.

Authorities are still awaiting blood tests but said Bent appeared drunk at the time of the collision.

``It's our opinion he was intoxicated,'' Shapiro said. ``We know he had been drinking.''

Bent does not have a criminal record in California, but authorities are checking records in Maryland, where Bent lived before moving to Santa Clarita, Shapiro said.

Sunday's collision was the third in three years that has resulted in the death of a Saugus High School student. Students said they were shocked and upset by their classmate's death, especially since tragedy seems to strike every year.

``I think it really sucks. I thought she was really nice,'' said Robin Lebetsamer, 16. ``It surprises me, but something seems to happen every year.''

In March 1997, Saugus student Amanda Larson, 15, was hit by a car while crossing the street to a friend's home. In March 1996, student Jennifer Lynn Dolan, 17, died in a crash at Decoro Drive and Grandview Drive.

School administrators prepared to work with grieving students by having the crisis intervention team ready to counsel students, Principal Cheryl Brown said.

Brown said Blaire's friends were also comforted by Blaire's sister, Stephanie, a junior who came to class Monday.

``With her here, they feel closer to Lauren than they ever could without her,'' Brown said.

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2 Photos

PHOTO (1--Color) Friends adorned the collision site at Bouquet and Plum canyon roads with with candles, flowers, pictures and messages written in chalk.

(2--Color) Lauren Blaire was killed Sunday

John Lazar/Special to the Daily News