Family and friends of a young Thornton mother who was killed as police were chasing two suspected car thieves, gathered at the site of the deadly crash Sunday afternoon for a memorial service.
Holman's mother spoke to the crowd of nearly 100 people, urging them to take with them an important message:
"Call your children and tell them you love them," she said, "and leave today a changed person because our lives are changed forever."
Loved ones of Jessica Holman, 33, yelled out, "We love you Jess!" as they released dozens of purple balloons in her name in the area of West 94th Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard.
Loved ones yelled out "we love you Jess" as they released balloons in her name. She was just 33. pic.twitter.com/iIIj7k5F4I
— Brendaliss Gonzalez (@brendalissg) March 13, 2016
A cross was also planted along the side of the road with the words, "In loving memory of Jessica Holman," inscribed on it.
Cross placed on crash site that reads: "In loving memory of Jessica Holman." RIP. pic.twitter.com/fN9iAQ05Zw
— Brendaliss Gonzalez (@brendalissg) March 13, 2016
Friends described Holman as loving mother to her 10-year-old son.
"She was a kind spirited person," said Lindsey Sunday, whose known Holman since middle school. "She had a contagious smile that really just would light up a room."
The memorial service comes just two days after the remaining outstanding suspect in the deadly crash was arrested by Westminster Police.
Ignacio Paul Diagle, 19, also known as Paul Salazar, was arrested Friday at around 6 p.m. The teenager had a warrant out for his arrest for intentionally driving across the median and slamming a stolen truck head-on with the vehicle of Jessica Holman.
The first suspect, whose identity remains unknown at this time, was arrested shortly after crash on Tuesday evening.
-- Events leading up to the deadly crash --
Westminster Police told Denver7 the two suspects stole a Ford F-350 pickup truck and a trailer with two off-road vehicles from a house in the area of Wadsworth Boulevard and West 88th Avenue. The owner saw the thieves and began to follow them and called police.
Patrol officers caught up with the stolen truck as the driver was headed northbound on Wadsworth Parkway. Moments later police activated their lights and sirens in the area of West 94th Avenue and Wadsworth and tried to make a traffic stop.
They say that's when the driver of the stolen truck veered across the median and into the southbound lanes, striking Holman's car head-on, killing her at the scene.
Westminster Police spokeswoman Cheri Spottke told Denver7 the first officer on the scene had to decide whether to go after the fence jumper or to stay with the first suspect who was in custody. She said he stayed.
When asked if police had actually been chasing the suspects prior to the crash, Spottke said, "By definition and case law, a pursuit is when an officer activates emergency equipment and the other vehicle doesn't stop. It doesn't matter if the vehicle goes a short distance or several miles."
Spottke added that the incident involving the stolen truck was a "short pursuit."
-- Neighbors react --
Neighbor Megan Patterson told Denver7 that she heard the crash, looked up over the fence and saw two men running. She said it frightened her a bit when she saw one of them jump over the fence.
"That's when I thought it might be a stolen car," Patterson said. "We got into our apartment as fast as we could and I locked the door."
Patterson said she and her son had just returned home from a trip to the mountains moments before the crash.
"I've been thinking about this all day," she said. "I'm grateful. I'm 32. I'm a mother and it was just a minute or two prior that we were on that road. So, my heart goes out to that family."
"My niece was the most beautiful soul on this earth. To be taken like this, is beyond words. Our family will be forever changed and saddened by our loss. Please keep our family in your prayers. Please, anyone who knows anything or has any information please contact the police. Thank you, the Holman family," Valerie Holman said."My cousin Jessica didn't deserve this. I love you Jessica and I pray for justice," DeziRee Holman said.
"The woman who died in this crash is one of my sister's best friends. She has a son and was a single mom. This is a senseless act that took a mother from her child. So terrible and tragic," Autumn Murray said.
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