Teen dies in auto accident
Four other Rehoboth students injured in crash on Interstate 40

By Leslie Wood
Staff Writer

GALLUP — One Rehoboth student was killed and at least four more were injured this weekend while traveling on Interstate 40 to Santa Fe.

Maria Holscher, 17, a foreign exchange student from Germany who was staying with Krzymoski family, was ejected from the 2003 GMC sports utility vehicle, and flown to Albuquerque where she died. She was not wearing a seatbelt. Her family was being notified overseas on Sunday afternoon.

The driver, Jason Landavazo, 18, along with passengers Jennifer Krzymoski, 18, and Mag Kim, 17, all of Gallup, and Natasha Devries, 18, of Zuni, were in the vehicle. A spokesperson for the state police said it is suspected that the driver fell asleep. The accident happened at about 6 a.m.

The students were en route to Santa Fe on Sunday morning to attend a United Nations simulation. The students were traveling in a caravan with two vehicles, when the vehicles were separated near the Acoma exit.

The first vehicle turned around on Interstate 40 to find the second vehicle had been involved in an accident. The vehicle, which was carrying the five Rehoboth seniors, reportedly rolled multiple times.

The injured students were transported to various regional hospitals for treatment including Albuquerque and Grants of injuries that range from head injuries to broken bones. At least one student was released from a local hospital on Sunday afternoon after receiving treatment.

At about 4 p.m. on Sunday, friends and family of the students who were involved in the crash, gathered at Rehoboth Christian Church to pray.

The Rehoboth congregation remembered Holscher's big smile and "awesome attitude," while praying for the recovery of the other four students.

Holscher had just returned from a church-sponsored choir tour.

"She came to give hope and did for so many," one person said of Holscher's life.

Sunday's accident was the second tragic crash involving local youths in recent days.

Christina Foster, 16, Gallup, died early Tuesday morning when the vehicle she was in rolled near Mile Marker 66 on I-40. Four others in the vehicle were injured.