The Crestone Eagle, March 2006:

One-car accident claims life of local student
by Mary Lowers

A one-car accident on Feb. 18, at 7:48am, on U.S. Hwy. 285, south of Saguache, claimed the life of James Devin Fawcett, 16, of Saguache. James was a Moffat High School student and played football for Mountain Valley High School in Saguache. The 1989 blue Buick Regal driven by James’ brother Kevin Andrew Fawcett, 17, left the road around milepost 78 and was airborne for 94 feet, according to the Colorado State Patrol. Alcohol and drugs were not a factor in the accident, according to the State Patrol report.

The Buick drove off the left side of the road when the driver was distracted and hit a driveway embankment which, according to the State Patrol narrative, caused the vehicle to be airborne for 94 feet before it hit a second driveway embankment where the car proceeded to roll 1 1/4 times. The right front seat passenger, James, was ejected. The car landed on its right side. The driver, Kevin, was taken to SLV Regional Medical Center with minor injuries. Saguache County Coroner Tom Perrin pronounced the passenger, James, dead at the scene.

The State Patrol Report says seatbelts were not in use at the time of the accident.

Family and friends from one side of the county to the other will sorely miss James Fawcett. Michelle Hashbarger, Moffat School Principal, said, “James has touched every student and staff member at Moffat in a kind and loving way. His upbeat attitude and extraordinary smile will forever leave us with wonderful memories.”

The consensus is that James had the rare gift of being able to make people happy, to see the beauty and humor in life. Milton Jones, James’ friend and minister of the Little Church in the Valley, characterized the sixteen-year-old as, “A good kid, well liked by everyone, smart, a hard worker, with an ornery streak in him that made him enjoyable.”

A community service for James was held at 1pm on Feb. 25 at the Mountain Valley Football Field in Saguache where James played. At the crowded service, Milton Jones quoted from the Book of Matthew, in the New Testament of the Bible, “The greatest among us shall be the servant of all.” Looking out onto the crowd at the service, Milton commented that the number gathered to remember James was testimony to the youth as “a team player.” Milton eulogized, “I can see that he was good at his job and for at least this moment, in this place, he’s one of the best of us all.”

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