LAS VEGAS (AP) — A UNLV student died in a tragic car crash just days after surviving a mass shooting on campus. Darren Westby, a 29-year-old grad student, and his fiancé, Jocelyn Brown, were involved in a fatal head-on collision on their way home for Christmas. The couple’s dog, Moose, miraculously survived the crash without any injuries. Brown sustained serious injuries, including a broken back and fractured skull, and has been released from the hospital after 11 days and two back surgeries.
Bill Westby, Darren’s father, described his son as the “light of our lives” and mourned the loss of the young teacher, who was known for his bright spirit and love for the outdoors. He recounted how his son had survived the mass shooting on the UNLV campus just two weeks before his fatal car crash, adding that Darren had heard the shots and safely evacuated. The family is devastated by the loss and is grateful for the outpouring of support from the UNLV community.
The California Highway Patrol is still investigating the cause of the crash, but alcohol is not suspected to have been a factor. The couple had plans to marry in May, and Brown had recently started a job as an anesthesiologist at a local hospital. Darren Westby was remembered as an avid outdoorsman who fondly converted his 1997 Chevy Suburban into an RV for camping trips with Brown.
This tragic incident has left the UNLV community in mourning, coming so soon after the mass shooting that Darren had narrowly escaped. The family is focused on supporting Brown in her recovery and remembering Darren’s love for life and the outdoors. The Kern County Coroner’s Office identified Darren Westby as the victim of the crash, which occurred on Highway 14 in California just days before Christmas.