Individual Details
Veronica Gail "Punky" Petters
(October 3, 1975 - April 1, 1993)
PARENTS, STUDENTS MOURN TEENAGERS' TRAFFIC DEATHS
St. Petersburg Times; St. Petersburg, Fla.; Apr 3, 1993; Teresa D. Brown; Brian Chichester
Full Text:
Copyright Times Publishing Co. Apr 3, 1993
At first, Deanne Valle thought it a cruel April Fool's prank. She didn't believe two of her best friends had been killed in a grisly car crash on State Road 50. When Valle realized she had been told the truth - that the two friends with whom she had planned to go camping this weekend had died - she wished it had been a joke. "I realized it had to be true because no one could do something that low," said Valle, 18.
Like Deanne, scores of students at Hernando High School struggled Friday with the news that classmates Veronica Petters, 17, and Ceara Monaghan, 17, died Thursday evening when the car they were in car swerved headlong into a Mack truck, just west of Mobley Road. The two were among a class of 210 seniors scheduled to graduate June 8.
"They were real fun to be around," Valle said. "If you were depressed, they always cheered you up. There was never a dull moment around them." Valle, Petters and Monaghan had planned to camp this weekend at the Silver Lake campground in East Hernando. Petters and Monaghan were going to Wal-Mart to buy a tent when the accident occurred, family members and friends said.
Petters, driving a 1978 MG Midget west on SR 50, swerved off the road and onto the north shoulder, the Florida Highway Patrol said. She apparently tried to return to the roadway, but overcompensated and headed straight into an oncoming 1980 Mack truck driven by 62-year-old Clifford Denig of Spring Hill.
"Ceara was always coming up with different ideas. I think they just wanted to spend some quiet time, three best friends together," said Veronica's mother, Barbara Petters.
Petters, who lived in Nobleton, was a member of the chorus and the Hernando High Environmental Club. She enjoyed the performing arts, rock music and talked about attending college after graduation, her mother said. "She was excited about trying her wings and flying, working, going to college and trying everything. (Her daughter and Ceara) wanted to get an apartment together," Mrs. Petters said. "But I sensed Veronica was a little bit scared (about graduation), too."
Monaghan of Brooksville was the daughter of Tom Monaghan, director of plant operations for the Hernando County School District. She moved to Hernando about a year ago and was active in field hockey and the Future Homemakers of America. Her family could not be reached for comment Friday.
Students expressed their shock as classes were dismissed Friday afternoon for spring break.
Senior Alan Mehlhorn, 17, shared a locker with Monaghan. He described the two girls as avid music lovers who went everywhere together.
He said fellow students tried not to be too depressed over the deaths. "We wanted to remember the fun times we had together," he said. Some students wrote goodbye messages in neon pink markers on front of the school's gym wall to tell the girls how much they meant to their friends. "I love you Vernie and Ceara, party on," one message said. "You will be missed by all!!"
Hernando High principal Elaine Sullivan said 20 to 50 students sought help through teachers, guidance counselors or school social workers. "Generally, the kids want to be with their teachers. Our campus tends to close in on itself (during times of crisis)," Sullivan said.
"Our hearts really go out to Mr. Monaghan and his family," said school Superintendent Harold Winkler. "It's nothing tougher for a parent than to lose a child." Mildred Hardeman, Monaghan's child care teacher, described the teen as a dependable, friendly person who loved working with children.
She was one of eight assistant child care teachers at Hernando High. "She was always smiling, always willing to do the extras and always was there if you needed her," Hardeman said.
Barbara Manuel, Petters' chorus teacher, said some students took the news pretty hard. Petters recently had performed in the student production of Dames at Sea. "It's really been shocking," said Manuel. "She was just in class (Thursday). It makes you see how fleeting life can be. No one is immortal."
St. Petersburg Times; St. Petersburg, Fla.; Apr 3, 1993; Teresa D. Brown; Brian Chichester
Full Text:
Copyright Times Publishing Co. Apr 3, 1993
At first, Deanne Valle thought it a cruel April Fool's prank. She didn't believe two of her best friends had been killed in a grisly car crash on State Road 50. When Valle realized she had been told the truth - that the two friends with whom she had planned to go camping this weekend had died - she wished it had been a joke. "I realized it had to be true because no one could do something that low," said Valle, 18.
Like Deanne, scores of students at Hernando High School struggled Friday with the news that classmates Veronica Petters, 17, and Ceara Monaghan, 17, died Thursday evening when the car they were in car swerved headlong into a Mack truck, just west of Mobley Road. The two were among a class of 210 seniors scheduled to graduate June 8.
"They were real fun to be around," Valle said. "If you were depressed, they always cheered you up. There was never a dull moment around them." Valle, Petters and Monaghan had planned to camp this weekend at the Silver Lake campground in East Hernando. Petters and Monaghan were going to Wal-Mart to buy a tent when the accident occurred, family members and friends said.
Petters, driving a 1978 MG Midget west on SR 50, swerved off the road and onto the north shoulder, the Florida Highway Patrol said. She apparently tried to return to the roadway, but overcompensated and headed straight into an oncoming 1980 Mack truck driven by 62-year-old Clifford Denig of Spring Hill.
"Ceara was always coming up with different ideas. I think they just wanted to spend some quiet time, three best friends together," said Veronica's mother, Barbara Petters.
Petters, who lived in Nobleton, was a member of the chorus and the Hernando High Environmental Club. She enjoyed the performing arts, rock music and talked about attending college after graduation, her mother said. "She was excited about trying her wings and flying, working, going to college and trying everything. (Her daughter and Ceara) wanted to get an apartment together," Mrs. Petters said. "But I sensed Veronica was a little bit scared (about graduation), too."
Monaghan of Brooksville was the daughter of Tom Monaghan, director of plant operations for the Hernando County School District. She moved to Hernando about a year ago and was active in field hockey and the Future Homemakers of America. Her family could not be reached for comment Friday.
Students expressed their shock as classes were dismissed Friday afternoon for spring break.
Senior Alan Mehlhorn, 17, shared a locker with Monaghan. He described the two girls as avid music lovers who went everywhere together.
He said fellow students tried not to be too depressed over the deaths. "We wanted to remember the fun times we had together," he said. Some students wrote goodbye messages in neon pink markers on front of the school's gym wall to tell the girls how much they meant to their friends. "I love you Vernie and Ceara, party on," one message said. "You will be missed by all!!"
Hernando High principal Elaine Sullivan said 20 to 50 students sought help through teachers, guidance counselors or school social workers. "Generally, the kids want to be with their teachers. Our campus tends to close in on itself (during times of crisis)," Sullivan said.
"Our hearts really go out to Mr. Monaghan and his family," said school Superintendent Harold Winkler. "It's nothing tougher for a parent than to lose a child." Mildred Hardeman, Monaghan's child care teacher, described the teen as a dependable, friendly person who loved working with children.
She was one of eight assistant child care teachers at Hernando High. "She was always smiling, always willing to do the extras and always was there if you needed her," Hardeman said.
Barbara Manuel, Petters' chorus teacher, said some students took the news pretty hard. Petters recently had performed in the student production of Dames at Sea. "It's really been shocking," said Manuel. "She was just in class (Thursday). It makes you see how fleeting life can be. No one is immortal."
Events
| Birth | October 3, 1975 | ||||
| Death | April 1, 1993 | ||||
| Burial | Sacred Heart Cemetery |
Families
| Father | Ernest C. Petters (1932 - 2007) |
| Mother | Shirley Ann Reiger (1936 - 1998) |
| Sibling | Wayne C. Petters |
| Sibling | Bonne A. Petters |
| Sibling | Janet L. Petters (1959 - 2004) |
| Sibling | Mark Vincent Petters-Ballard (1961 - 1983) |
| Sibling | Sandra A. Petters |
| Sibling | Kevin E. Petters |