ADRIANNA BACHAN MEMORIAL
Friends and family gathered at Saint Anthony's Croatian Catholic Church downtown tonight to remember freshman Adrianna Bachan.
Bachan was killed in a hit-and-run accident at Jefferson Blvd. and Hoover Street on March 29th. Bachan's mother, Carmen, and sister, Alexandra, joined the 18-year-old's friends, roommates, sorority sisters and teammates in celebrating her brief but full life.
Members of the Los Angeles City Council and the Los Angeles Police Department also remembered Adrianna and paid their respects to her grieving family.
Adrianna's father, James Bachan, did not attend the service. The family's spokesperson said the bereaved father has not been able to eat, sleep or leave his parents' Silver Lake home since his daughter's death. James is "beyond grief."
Hundreds of people came to say goodbye to the "spunky, fiesty" girl who "never gave up." Adrianna was a member of the Pi Beta Phi sorority and played Club Soccer. Carmen says she is "proud that so many people loved her" daughter.
LAPD's suspect in the case, Claudia Cabrera, 30, pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter charges and felony hit-and-run charges. Cabrera is scheduled to appear in court on May 4th.
Adrianna's family are asking that her fellow students "remember her" as well as help police track down the second suspect in the investigation, Cabrera's husband.
Adrianna's ashes will be returned to her native Santa Barbara tomorrow. A memorial service will be held at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Montecito.