Parents Accept Late Daughter’s Diploma

In memory of their 18-year-old daughter, Greg and Tanis Thorne on Friday attended what would have been her graduation had the Saddleback College student lived another day.

Cody Thorne, who died Thursday after a car crash, was an honors student. As the announcer called her name at the ceremony, her parents solemnly accepted the two-year associate of arts degree.

“Her name was the first one called,” school spokeswoman Aleta Walther said. “It’s a difficult situation. We have a very tragic accident [to cope with] on a day that’s supposed to be happy for everyone.”

Thorne was a passenger in a car driven by a 17-year-old friend arrested on suspicion of drunk driving. Thorne and two other passengers were killed when the 1966 Mustang collided with a big rig at Jamboree Road and Main Street at 12:20 a.m.

Leon Green and Stephen Lord, both 20, were riding in the back seat and also died. The foursome had been out dancing Wednesday night at Sensations in Irvine.

Irvine police are trying to determine whether the 17-year-old or the driver of the big rig ran a red light and how fast the Mustang was traveling, Sgt. Tim Smith said Friday. The traffic lights at the intersection where the accident occurred will be examined for any mechanical malfunction, he said.

Police also were interviewing witnesses who had seen the foursome Wednesday evening to find out who might have provided the 17-year-old girl with alcohol.

Investigators said they found an ID card for the teen driver’s 20-year-old sister at the accident scene, but it was unclear whether she had used the card to gain access to the club, which serves alcohol.

The dance club, which on Wednesday nights allows patrons as young as 18, denied serving alcohol to the girl or any other patrons younger than 21, police said. Club management did not return phone calls Friday.

As investigators searched for clues, family members were making funeral arrangements.

At her Turtle Rock home, Lord’s mother, Betty Hopkins, was making burial plans as friends from church hovered nearby to comfort her. Lord was a rap singer for an alternative band and lived in a artist’s loft in Laguna Beach.

Memorial services for Lord will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Friendship Baptist Church, 17145 Bastanchury Road in Yorba Linda.

In Cerritos, Green’s family worked with Irvine Valley College administrators to make funeral arrangements. Green, of Cerritos, played on the school’s basketball team.

Green’s funeral service is tentatively scheduled for 1 p.m. Thursday at Rose Hills Mortuary in Whittier.

Services for Thorne will begin at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Fairhaven Mortuary, 1702 Fairhaven Ave. in Santa Ana.