AREA TEEN SUCCUMBS TO INJURIES FIVE DAYS AFTER FALLING FROM VAN.Byline: Bhavna Mistry Daily News Staff Writer After clinging to life for five days, Lancaster High School Lancaster High School may refer to:
Hodge, 16, had been in a coma in the pediatric pediatric /pe·di·at·ric/ (pe?de-at´rik) pertaining to the health of children. pe·di·at·ric adj. Of or relating to pediatrics. intensive care unit at Antelope Valley This article is about the Los Angeles County region. For the census-designated place in Wyoming, see Antelope Valley-Crestview, Wyoming. The Antelope Valley Hospital since falling Friday afternoon out of a van turning a corner at Avenue J-13 west of 20th Street West. ``He was a friend to everyone,'' said Kirk Hurd, director of outreach and youth ministries at Lancaster United Methodist Church United Methodist Church, in the United States, religious body formed by the union in 1968 of the Evangelical United Brethren Church and the Methodist Church (see Methodism). . ``He grew up in the church.'' Doctors pronounced Hodge dead at 1:10 p.m. His organs were donated. On Monday night, family and friends had gathered at the United Methodist Church, where a vigil was held in hopes that Hodge would recover. ``In the initial stages, we weren't given much hope,'' said Lancaster High School Assistant Principal Gilbert Lara. ``But each 24 hours was a good sign. We were hopeful that he would survive. It came as a shock that he did not.'' School district psychologists were summoned to the school to lead grief groups and offer counseling. A junior, Hodges played football and recently was involved in the drama club and the school production of ``Our Town.'' ``We're saddened at the loss of Jeffrey,'' Lara said. Besides football, Hodge played soccer with an adult coed team and liked roller hockey roller hockey n. Hockey played on a hard surface in which two opposing teams of roller skaters, using curved sticks, try to drive a ball into the opponents' goal. and snowboarding snowboarding: see under skiing. snowboarding Sport of sliding downhill over snow on a snowboard, a wide ski ridden in a surfing position. Derived from surfing and influenced also by skateboarding as well as skiing, snowboarding began to burgeon . At his church, Hodge worked the sound system for a music group. He visited the Dominican Republic Dominican Republic (dəmĭn`ĭkən), republic (2005 est. pop. 8,950,000), 18,700 sq mi (48,442 sq km), West Indies, on the eastern two thirds of the island of Hispaniola. The capital and largest city is Santo Domingo. two years ago on a missionary trip. Sheriff's officials said Hodge had been engaging in horseplay horse·play n. Rowdy or rough play. horseplay Noun rough or rowdy play Noun 1. in a van containing three friends, who told him to stop. Hodge repeatedly opened the side sliding door and yelled and waved to passers-by, deputies said. As the van turned from 20th Street West onto Avenue J-13, Hodge stepped onto the running board, lost his footing and fell head-first to the pavement, deputies said. Services for Hodge will take place Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Lancaster United Methodist Church. A party in celebration of his life will follow at the John Wesley Hall at the church. In lieu of flowers, family members have asked that donation be made to the Jeff Hodge Memorial Sound Fund, which will help pay for upgrades to the church's sound system. Donations may be made out to Lancaster United Methodist Church and mailed to the church at 918 W. Ave. J, Lancaster, CA 93534. |
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