This letter is to inform those who stand in question with regards to the Visalia Times Delta article regarding my daughter Dana. What was reported is far from reporting facts and truth, so I want to set the record straight.
If you recall when reading the initial article, they quoted a Lieutenant of Visalia Police Department simply stating the accident is under investigation. Then it reads the Visalia Police are investigating the crash as a possible suicide. Not a quote from any officer in particular because there isn’t an officer that said any such thing. In fact, when I talked with the same lieutenant a day after the article came out, he assured me VPD was not investigating suicide as there was no evidence of any such thing.
I also spoke with the two lead officers who also told me they were not investigating suicide and were actually upset with Visalia Times Delta and confronted them on their article. They were told by the Visalia Times Delta editor they were not retracting the article even though the Times Delta had no true source or facts to report such a thing.
Facts according to the Visalia Police Department final police report simply state that it was a traffic accident caused by human error, in which no one will truly know what caused the accident. Rumors of excessive speed have surfaced and I will reassure everyone that there was no evidence or fact to this rumor. But what I do know is that it was not done intentionally, like Visalia Time Delta would like you to think. Why would they do this? I believe they did this so that you the reader will click on the story and stay tuned for any updates. That’s it. What they need to know is my Dana was the happiest, strongest, free-spirited young woman that helped others anywhere and anytime. Her smile and laugh was the most contagious of anyone who knew her.
And then Visalia Times couldn’t stop there. Uninvited and not welcomed in any fashion, they showed up for my daughters service. They reported seeing Dana’s friends wearing yellow shirts, which they implicated was in support of suicide prevention. Are you serious? What’s wrong with them? Fact: Beautiful young girls gathered and asked Dana’s closest friends what Dana’s favorite color is. Best friends answered correctly with yellow. Anyone close to Dana knew her favorite color was yellow. She has multiple shirts, tops, sweatshirts and dresses in yellow. Her artwork was full of yellow. So the young ladies made shirts to raise money in honor and memory of Dana’s favorite color. That’s it. Also, VTD interviewed a young man that told them when he asked Dana if she was OK, she would tell him to leave her alone. Sorry, but not unusual. I’m proud to say that when Dana was having a bad day or something upset her, she came to me, her mom, her brother or her best friend. Our family was the best at communication and kept no secrets.
Now my belief. My family are strong believers in Christ and having Jesus in your heart. When you have strong faith in the Lord, you face the devil. Because of this horrific accident and dealing with what I’ve been dealing with, I believe Visalia Times Delta became the devil in this scenario. Its hard enough dealing with the death of my Darlin Dana but to add Visalia Times’ horribly-crafty writing to obtain more hits on their link. Pure devil.
Please don’t allow Visalia Times Delta to put questions in your head. You knew Dana the way you did and that’s what you need to remember. Please don’t let the devil tell you otherwise. The simple fact is that the Lord saw what Dana did for others here on Earth and He had big plans and assignments in Heaven for my Darlin Dana. Dana is an Angel of God and is with us all when we need her. She will and forever be my sunshine.
Jason Kennedy, Father of Dana
as well as our entire family