FATAL HEAD INJURY TEEN DIES AFTER FALL FROM VEHICLE.

Byline: Karen Maeshiro Staff Writer

LANCASTER - A teenage girl who was active with the Future Farmers of America and other animal programs died this week after falling off the back of a van.

Sixteen-year-old Loreena Osborn, a Quartz Hill High School student, hit her head on the pavement Wednesday and died of her injuries early Thursday.

Loreena was riding on the back of the van near her high school after feeding the pig she was raising for the Antelope Valley Fair. She was secretary of the local FFA chapter and this was her first time to enter an animal in the fair, which begins today.

``She was giving, caring, motivated,'' her mother, Lorna Osborn, said Friday. ``She wanted to do something with animals.''

Loreena had been raising the pig, which is housed at the school, since March. Her mother said fair officials have made an exception and will allow one of Loreena's friends to show the pig at the junior livestock auction Thursday.

``Every day, she went in the morning and in the evening to feed him, work him, play with him, spend time with him,'' Osborn said. ``I'm so proud of my daughter. I couldn't be any prouder.''

Loreena joined the FFA in her freshman year. She had worked for 3 1/2 years for Saddle Up Therapeutic Riding Stables in Palmdale, which serves disabled children.

``She would walk on the side and hang on to the child or lead the horse,'' her mother said.

Loreena had several pets: three cats, a puppy, a rat, a bird and a bunny.

Proceeds from the auction and donations sent to an account the family has set up at Washington Mutual Bank will be distributed to help Quartz Hill FFA members who can't afford to raise an animal, to the riding stables to help children who are unable to pay for the therapy, and to help pay for Loreena's funeral, her mother said.

Karen Maeshiro, [phone]

karen.maeshiro(at)dailynews.com