Kristin Gaskin and Tabitha Pastrana

 

  fundraiser at Tijuana Flats                                                     

                                

“Never doubt that a small, group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”  

~ Margaret Meade

We would like to thank you in advance for your consideration regarding this important matter.   On Monday, May 5, 2008, Wesley Chapel lost Tabatha Pastrana and Kristin Gaskin,  two very active, beautiful young women in a tragic car accident on I75.    We are working to assist both families who lost these young women in offsetting funeral and medical expenses.  

 

On Saturday, May 10, 2008, we have planned to hold a fundraiser at Tijuana Flats on SR 56 through raffles, silent auction and, of course, the wonderful food there as well.   We are in desperate need of donations for the raffle and silent auction.   In addition, we are in need of volunteers to help man the event.    So far, Tijuana Flats has generously opened its doors to us to hold the event and has pledged a portion of the proceeds from the day towards the funding.  They have also been generous to allow us to utilize their non-profit organization to assist the families.   Victorious Life Church has opened its doors and has assisted us in helping to gather volunteers for the event.    Companies from the immediate Wesley Chapel/New Tampa area have also stepped forward with many donations as well.  The Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce is assisting in organizing and gathering volunteers and donations.   Won’t you join the effort to help the families of Kristin and Tabatha in their time of need?  All donations will be welcomed and a letter of non-profit organization (Just in Queso Foundation) is available if needed for tax purposes. 

 

Tabatha had just turned 18 in March and was a senior at Wesley Chapel High School.   She is survived by her adoptive parents and two younger siblings.   She had planned to graduate in May and go on to the University of Miami on a full scholarship.     Kristin Gaskin was also a senior at Wesley Chapel High School.  She is survived by her parents and had plans to attend Pasco Hernando Community College in the fall to study psychology.    Both students were very active in their school community.   Most recently, Tabatha worked at Kids R Kids in Meadow Pointe, and Kristin was employed at Tijuana Flats.

 

Again, thank you in advance for assisting with this worthy cause and helping to remember and honor Tabatha Pastrana and Kristin Gaskin!    Please contact Ruby Houg at 813-994-9184 or  949-254-5102 or Steve Fischer, GM of Tijuana Flats

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Crash Kills 2 From Wesley Chapel High

By GEOFF FOX

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 6, 2008

 

WESLEY CHAPEL - Kristin Gaskin and Tabitha Pastrana were good friends and members of the Wesley Chapel High School yearbook staff.  Both seniors, Gaskin, 17, and Pastrana, 18, were killed Monday afternoon in a single-vehicle, rollover crash on Interstate 75, north of State Road 54, the Florida Highway Patrol said.  News of the wreck had not circulated through the school by the time students and staff left campus, Principal Andy Frelick said. "The school district's crisis team will be in here first thing in the morning," he said. "Unfortunately, we've been through this before."  According to the highway patrol:  Pastrana, of Wesley Chapel, was driving a 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse north on I-75 when she lost control. The car went into the shoulder and into the woods, slamming into trees, overturning and landing on its roof about 1 p.m.  Pastrana, who was not wearing a seat belt, died at the scene. Gaskin, of San Antonio, was flown to St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa, where she died. She had been wearing a seat belt.  The crash is under investigation.  Frelick said the girls were popular. "I've known Kristin since she was in third grade," he said. "I coached her soccer team. I know they've both been involved with the yearbook and in that class for a couple years."  Frelick said Pastrana was in an on-the-job training program and usually got out of school at 12:05 p.m. Gaskin typically left about 1 p.m.  In September, Wesley Chapel High students participated in the Florida Sheriffs Association's Teen Driver Challenge, a program that features accident statistics, safety tips, graphic videotapes and actual driving time. At the time, the school district reported that Wesley Chapel students had been involved in four fatal crashes during the previous 14 months.

The month before the sheriff's course, student Mathew Laidley, 17, was killed when the sport utility vehicle he was riding in flipped on nearby Curley Road after school was out. The driver, Adam Sanford, 17, and another passenger, Katelin Kaiser, survived but suffered serious injuries.  Reporter Geoff Fox can be reached at (813) 948-4217 or gfox@tampatrib.com. Reporters Ronnie Blair and Lisa A. Davis contributed to this story.