7 DIE IN VAN CRASH; LOCAL CHURCH GROUP MOURNED.

Byline: Troy Anderson, Jennifer Hamm and Jason Kandel Staff Writers

Members of an Eagle Rock church mourned Friday the death of seven parishioners killed when their rented van crashed on the 101 Freeway en route to a meeting in the Bay Area.

The van carrying 14 members of The Kingdom of Jesus Christ church crashed outside Atascadero late Thursday, ejecting five people, who died, authorities said. The driver was wearing a seat belt and remained in the van but also died in the crash, as did one other passenger.

As church members planned memorials to honor the seven women who died, investigators puzzled over why the driver lost control of the van and crashed outside San Luis Obispo, leaving a trail of Bibles and hymnals across all four lanes.

``I feel their pain,'' said California Highway Patrol Officer Donnie Beavers. ``I understand, but I'm just not in a position to give them a reason why something like this would happen.''

The group was on its way to a Kingdom of Jesus Christ service at the Hyatt Regency at the San Francisco Airport in Burlingame, where they planned to discuss how to establish a church in San Francisco. The meeting was canceled after the crash.

The 3 million member, Philippines-based church was founded by executive pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy in 1985 and has established congregations worldwide. When the crash occurred, Quiboloy was in Burlingame for the meeting, and he drove back to Atascadero early Friday to visit victims and family.

Initial reports from the CHP indicated five of the people in the van are Valley residents and survived. But some of them were listed in critical and serious condition at hospitals near the site of the crash.

Among those injured was Canoga Park resident Juanita Reyes, 55, who was in critical condition at Sierra Vista Hospital in San Luis Obispo.

``I was confident that she was not one of the ones who passed away,'' said her friend, Reseda resident Cristina Destajo, 44. ``When I heard that seven people died, I was sure it was not Juanita. She's a very strong person.''

``Thankfully she's alive, by God's grace,'' Destajo said, ``but we lost a lot of friends.''

Doctors operated on Reyes' legs and hips in the intensive care unit at Sierra Vista Hospital, Destajo said.

The crash occurred at 10:45 p.m. when the driver, Julieta Razon, 49, of Los Angeles, drove into the dirt center divider, overcorrected and lost control, causing the van to overturn and cross the southbound lanes, Beavers said.

``When it overturned, five people were ejected from the van,'' Beavers said.

The crumpled van came to rest on its passenger side in a 10-foot-deep roadside ditch. Rescue workers propped it up with boards to gain access to people trapped in the wreckage.

At Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, hospital spokeswoman Cathy Walker said the mother of 4-year-old Aretha Fike visited her daughter in the pediatric intensive care unit.

``The last I heard, her mother was on the way to see her father in another hospital up north,'' Walker said.

Hours before their white van crashed, church members gathered at their Eagle Rock worship space to sing and make final preparations for their weekend trip.

``They were very happy and chatting,'' said a man who works in the building where the church leases space.

Neighbors said the church members are always friendly and busy with church activities.

``I can't believe it,'' said neighbor Rachel Macias, 74. ``I'm going to pray for them.''

CRASH VICTIMS

Those killed in the crash were: driver, Julieta Razon, 49, of Los Angeles; Merlin Dandan, 30, of Los Angeles; Pacing Yuson, 70, of Los Angeles; Marissa Quibold, 51, of Torrance; Fely Haliburton, 60, of Los Angeles; Marie Guanzing, 40, of Harbor City; and Aurora Towner, 55, of Carson.

Those injured were: Juanita Reyes, 55, of Canoga Park; Raquel Lozado, 40, of North Hollywood, who suffered minor injuries; William Duque, 36, of North Hollywood, who was listed in critical condition at Sierra Vista Hospital; Aretha Fike, 4, of North Hollywood, who was listed in serious condition at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital; and Leu Leonardo Lozado, 66, of North Hollywood, who suffered moderate injuries. His condition was not available.

CAPTION(S):

Photo, Map, Box

Photo: Paramedics work at the scene where a van rented by an members of an Eagle Rock church overturned.

Phil Klein/Associated Press

Map: Atascadero site of church van crash

Box: CRASH VICTIMS (See text)