By Staci DaSilva
sdasilva@kcautv.com
There were tears, hugs and prayers Monday at the New Life In Christ Church as the family and friends of Matthew Dean, Torey Wickey and Dominique Nok consoled each other during their tragic loss.
It's hard to put into words but easy to see how 3 lives have touched such a large community. So many people were painfully coming to grips with the loss of 3 of their own.
Matthew Dean's cousin Taylor Baker said, "Pain. It hurts. The thought of what they went through, to know that they had to suffer and the fact that they're not here."
A tragedy such as this forces people to put aside their differences and lean on each other.
Rev. Jessie Dupree Sr. said, "There's just so many young people who are here today. And they seem as though they're lost. They're lost. They don't know what to do in this situation. And therefore, that's where we come in."
Matthew Dean was a member of the New Life In Christ Church. Friends describe him as a protective family man.
But he wasn't the only one remembered. Folks kept using the word "cool" to describe Torey Wickey.
And Dominique?
Dominique Nok's friend Jasmine Jackson said, "Dominique was great. He always wanted to see people smile. He always wanted you happy, funny goofy."
It can't be forgotten that police say alcohol was a factor in these deaths. And if anything can come of this heartbreak, it's a lesson in drunk driving.
"My biggest thing was don't drink and drive. It's not safe. You're not in your right mind when you do it. It's not cool. It's not a game. It's nothing you should test," said Jackson.
With a candle lit for each victim, the group of mourners made progress towards moving on, but they'll never forget their friends, their loved ones, who had their whole lives ahead of them.
There is also an on-going, impromptu memorial set up at the site of the crash.
