Rachel's Passing (Coloradoan Article)
A Fort Collins resident who was an Immanuel Community Church worship leader and hopeful nurse was killed Thursday night when her car was struck by a truck on U.S. Highway 287 near LaPorte.
Rachel Christen, 20, died in the 7:10 p.m. crash between the 1997 Saab she was driving and a Dodge 3500 truck.
Christen’s three passengers were injured in the crash, as was the truck’s driver. The collision forced the road to be closed for almost two hours.
According to the Colorado State Patrol, Christen was driving north on U.S. 287 when she attempted to make a U-turn and was hit by the truck.
“She had a love for God and a love for people and a love for God’s Word,” said Lee Price, the church’s former youth pastor. “She was one of those people who was always more mature than her age. She put others before herself, over and over again.”
Riding with Christen were Lisa Gutsche, 21 who was visiting from Germany, Tre Scott, 19, and Reese Quanstrom, 19, of Fort Collins.
Drugs and alcohol are not suspected to be factors in the crash, according to CSP.
Friday, Christen’s page on the Facebook social networking site was filled up with memorial comments from her friends, many of them who appeared to know her through mission trips.
“Rachel was a gift from God. She lived to follow and serve Jesus Christ, and her life always reflected that. She was one of the most encouraging and joyful people I’ve ever met,” Thomas Degroot said. “She brightened the world through her friendship, her art, her music and her beautiful smile.
Price said Christen had recently traveled to Peru and Nicaragua on mission trips. “She had a love for missions and other people and other cultures” Price said.
Christen had recently completed the pre-nursing program at Front Range Community College and was on the waiting list to attend the school’s popular nursing program.
She graduated Rocky Mountain High School in 2005.
Rachel Christen, 20, died in the 7:10 p.m. crash between the 1997 Saab she was driving and a Dodge 3500 truck.
Christen’s three passengers were injured in the crash, as was the truck’s driver. The collision forced the road to be closed for almost two hours.
According to the Colorado State Patrol, Christen was driving north on U.S. 287 when she attempted to make a U-turn and was hit by the truck.
“She had a love for God and a love for people and a love for God’s Word,” said Lee Price, the church’s former youth pastor. “She was one of those people who was always more mature than her age. She put others before herself, over and over again.”
Riding with Christen were Lisa Gutsche, 21 who was visiting from Germany, Tre Scott, 19, and Reese Quanstrom, 19, of Fort Collins.
Drugs and alcohol are not suspected to be factors in the crash, according to CSP.
Friday, Christen’s page on the Facebook social networking site was filled up with memorial comments from her friends, many of them who appeared to know her through mission trips.
“Rachel was a gift from God. She lived to follow and serve Jesus Christ, and her life always reflected that. She was one of the most encouraging and joyful people I’ve ever met,” Thomas Degroot said. “She brightened the world through her friendship, her art, her music and her beautiful smile.
Price said Christen had recently traveled to Peru and Nicaragua on mission trips. “She had a love for missions and other people and other cultures” Price said.
Christen had recently completed the pre-nursing program at Front Range Community College and was on the waiting list to attend the school’s popular nursing program.
She graduated Rocky Mountain High School in 2005.
