Teenager lost in Waimanalo crash was excited about life
By James Gonser
Advertiser Urban Honolulu Writer
Saturday started out as one of the happiest days in Jamie Singleton's life, according to her mother. Tragically, it was also the last day of her life.
Photo courtesy of Singleton family
"Just after 1 p.m. I was doing laundry," Nora Singleton said. "She was telling her brother, 'This is the happiest day of my life. I'm finally getting a job. I'm going to get my life together.' She was happy. A neighbor said she was walking up the lane jumping up and down, saying 'hi.' She was all happy. Seven hours later it was all over."
Jamie Singleton, 17, who died Saturday in an auto accident in Waimanalo, hoped to become a veterinarian.
Jamie Singleton, 17, and Zebedee Leahy, 21, died at about 7 p.m. Saturday when they were hurled from the bed of a speeding pickup truck as it swerved off Kalaniana'ole Highway, slammed through a concrete pillar and crashed into a utility pole in Waimanalo.
Six other people were injured in the crash.
Police say the case is still under investigation, but the vehicle's 31-year-old driver, Leahy's brother, had likely been drinking alcohol.
Singleton had recently earned her high school diploma through the Hawai'i Community Action Program and on Saturday had been to a job interview to be a greeter for Ilima Tours. She got the job.
Jamie Singleton's friends and classmates are collecting money to help the family pay for funeral expenses. To help, send donations to: Honolulu Community Action Program
Nora Singleton said her daughter didn't do well at Farrington High School, but she fit right in at HCAP.
How to help
Jamie Singleton Fund
1109 Maunakea St., 2nd Floor
Honolulu, HI 96817
"She didn't have the one-on-one attention she needed at Farrington," Singleton said. "Some teachers don't give enough attention to certain students. She was having a lot of difficulty, so I pulled her out."
HCAP program coordinator Olivia Kennell said many people at the school had become close with Jamie.
"She was a charming, sweet girl," Kennell said yesterday. "She had a lot of skills. She responded to the counseling and individual attention we give. It has been very somber at school today. The people hit most were with Jamie in the last session. They were just really stunned. With teenagers, an incident like this really gives them a body shock."
Kennell said Zebedee Leahy had recently applied to the program and was expected to begin soon. Two of the other people injured in the accident were also HCAP students. Both were back in class yesterday.
The program is collecting money to help both families with burial expenses.
Singleton said her daughter was excited about life.
"She loved her music," Singleton said. "She was going to Paradise Dance School at one point to become a dancer like Janet Jackson. She wanted to get into medical school, she wanted to be a veterinarian. She loved animals."
Jamie was the youngest of four children. Her father, Willie Singleton, a line cook at Dave & Busters, said she was the happiest of the bunch.
"She was exuberant, always bubbly," he said. "The lesson to be learned is don't drink and drive."
Nora Singleton said she was close with her daughter and the two were always honest with each other. She knew Jamie had gone to Bellows Air Force Station, where some friends were camping on the beach, but has no idea how she ended up in the back of a truck heading to Waimanalo.
"My daughter always called home when she was out and let me know what she was doing," she said. "This time, I don't understand why she didn't call. I just can't believe it. I feel so empty inside."
Reach James Gonser at jgonser@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2431.
