Family mourns loss of Indio teen
The family of a 19-year-old high school senior mourns the loss of his life.
Shaun Clark Jr. was skateboarding with friends around 11:00 p.m. on Tuesday at Avenue 43 west of Calhoun Street when he was struck by an SUV.
Clark later died from his injuries at Desert Regional Medical Center.
“It’s a very difficult time for any parent to go through, its something that you just can’t fathom the depth of the pain that you go through,” Shaun Clark remembers his son, Shaun Clark Jr.
“Our son was a pillar in the community. He was well loved by all of his friends, a contributing member at his school, and he had an incredible personality and future,” said Clark.
“He is really loved and missed and I love him so much, and I wish he was here, he didn’t deserve it,” said Colleen Rilling, Clark Jr.’s sister.
Shaun Clark Jr. was known by his friends and family as Shayj. His best friend was with him on Tuesday night when he was killed.
“He chases after the board, he runs into oncoming traffic and gets hit by a car. I ran after him screaming his name,” said Russell White.
“Shaun was not wearing a helmet, and I have done my best to harp on them to wear a helmet and all their friends to wear a helmet. Kids these days think they a bullet proof and they’re not,” said Shaun Clark.
Clark Jr. was a senior at Shadow Hills High School and had a bright future.
“Shaun was looking to go into the Air Force or the Navy. The navy was interested in recruiting him for nuclear engineering. He just loved to fiddle with things,” said Clark.
“He would accomplish anything he set his mind to, he taught himself guitar, he was a great singer, he was really intelligent,” said Rilling.
Even though the family has asked the police to put them in contact, they still haven’t had a chance to talk to the person driving the SUV that hit Clark.
“We would just like an opportunity for this man to understand we love him and we hold no grudge, no ill will, and want him to know that we are praying for him,” said Clark.
“I would like to extend my olive branch as well, because I know that’s eating him up inside and nobody deserves to live with that,” said Rilling.
Now friends and family remember a young man who meant so much.
“He’s got a big set of golden wings and he’s flying up there over all of this to make sure we’re not mourning, we are going to celebrate his life,” said Clark.
The family is planning on having the funeral be open to the public. They still haven’t found the right venue, but they say the service should be at 3 p.m. on April 9.
