Deseret News | Guatemala plane crash kills 10 including Americans

Reader comments
Guatemala plane crash kills 10 including Americans

David Woolley | 6:14 p.m. Aug. 24, 2008

What a terrible accident. I was on the same flight last Thanksgiving going to villages near El Estor to help with a water project in the mountains east of Guatemala City.

I was with the same Humanitarian group. It was a wonderful experience. I am so dreadfully sorry for the loss of life in this plane crash.

David Woolley | 6:40 p.m. Aug. 24, 2008

I know the husband and wife team, Javier and Walfred Rabanales, who meet these groups these groups in Guatemala City and accompany them to El Estor via prop plane. If you know them, please pray for them and their families.

I hope they weren't touched by this terrible accident.

David G. Woolley | 7:07 p.m. Aug. 24, 2008

My dear Guatemalan friends Javier and Walfred Rabanales, a husband and wife team who directed the humanitarian efforts in the remote villages north east of Guatemala City and who died in this crash today, I send my sincerest condolences to their surviving teenaged sons and daughters. Not ontly did Javier dedicate his life to the betterment of the villagers, many of whom were converts to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints in the most remote areas of the country, he also served church members and others in his home in the Capital City of Guatemala. Walfred, his loving wife who accompanied Javier on these expeditions and prepared food for the American volunteers was also killed in the crash.

We are all devistated by the loss.

May God bless the Rabanales Family and the other passengers who lost their lives this afternoon.

Comments continue below

Thal Dixon | 7:24 p.m. Aug. 24, 2008

Javier and Walfred Rabanales were killed in the crash. They are my brother and sister inlaw. My wife, Claudia Rabanales and I live in the North Torrance Stake in Southern California. We received a phone call a couple of hours ago from Javier's best friend that now lives in Sandy. He was called by our 16 year old nephew when he couldn't find our number. We appreciate your prayers as we pull together as a family to figure out what is best for their 3 surviving teenagers left at home.

David G. Woolley | 8:34 p.m. Aug. 24, 2008

Thal, if there is anything I can do, or the many of us who knew and loved your brother and sister in law, please let me know. Daniel, their son, knows how to contact me and let me know how we can be of service.

You are all in our prayers.

Blaine | 8:58 p.m. Aug. 24, 2008

John Carter of Morgan, Utah was a volunteer with this group and apparently is one of those who has died in this tragic accident.
His young wife and children will miss him deeply; as will his large extended family and those of us who have come to love him through personal accosiations over the last several years.

David G. Woolley | 9:29 p.m. Aug. 24, 2008

Hal, I posted a blog about Javier and Walfred and their wonderful work. We all loved them so much. Please let your family know of our love. Where do we send flowers? What can we do. The blog is posted at davidgwoolley dot blogspot dot com. Thanks for passing along my condolences and the condolences of so many who worked with them.

David Scott | 9:31 p.m. Aug. 24, 2008

I too was on a similar trip 18 Months ago where I met Javier, Walfred, their daughter and son Daniel. My heart goes out to the Rabanales family and all those touched by this tragic accident including the Choice Humanitarian family. Javier & Walfred are wonderful people.

Anonymous | 9:48 p.m. Aug. 24, 2008

Does anyone have any more information regarding others on the flight?

Anonymous | 10:09 p.m. Aug. 24, 2008

I know 4 killed (one being John Carter mentioned above) were working for Focus a call center based out of Ogden Utah while one other was also on the flight; Dan Liljenquist and injured and who also works for the company. It was a team the company had sent to help with building the homes :( All have young families.

Anonymous | 10:10 p.m. Aug. 24, 2008

Dan Liljenquist of Bountiful survived.

Anonymous | 10:23 p.m. Aug. 24, 2008

From what I understand two of the fatalities where from Rock Falls, IL. They worked for Focus Services as well.

cnote | 10:35 p.m. Aug. 24, 2008

Liz Johnson of Salt Lake City also survived. Her husband Chris is the director of the Choice expeditions. Chris is on an airplane down to Guatemala right now. I do not know of Liz's conditions though.

Anonymous | 10:36 p.m. Aug. 24, 2008

Focus will be greatly affected by the loss of these great folks. Carter was an exceptional person as was the other 3 from Focus that passed. They were going to help the less fortunate and are great examples of selflessness and humility. I pray the families of those that were lost can find some sort of comfort and know how much the Focus family loves them. I also pray Brooke and kids will be comforted at this time.

BellaMia | 11:51 p.m. Aug. 24, 2008

I am so sad for these poor families as well as the beneficiaries of their service. There is a reason my husband and I do not fly on the same flight. I don't even like traveling in the same car for the reason that we have so many little ones.

I served a mission in Guatemala and so I feel greatly for this situation. And this just after the cedar city plane crash....bad week for small planes.

Anonymous | 11:54 p.m. Aug. 24, 2008

Who else survived...who was killed...would like to know.

Anonymous | 11:58 p.m. Aug. 24, 2008

I know if three people who worked at Focus (a calling center) on the DirecTV project...John Carter, Dan Liljenquist, (who survived) and Cody Ode.Cody just turned 19, I knew Cody personally he was the best person to have in my life! he is a only child...my prayers are with his family and girlfriend (who i also know personally) I work at focus and I want more then anything to Go to work tomorrow and see cody ready to do pre shift, He will be missed dearly and my regards to everyone who lost someone one this flight...and thing you want to know e mail me

Anonymous | 1:06 a.m. Aug. 25, 2008

I know at least 2 of the victims were sent from our local call center (Focus) in Rock Falls, IL. May God Bless the families of these young victims. Our thoughts and prayers are with you today. We love you Lydia, may God cradle you in his loving arms, and comfort your 2 beautiful children. You will be sadly missed.

Anonymous | 6:05 a.m. Aug. 25, 2008

Words can't begin to describe the pain this is causing us here at Focus. Jeff, Lydia, Cody and John were people that you couldn't dislike how hard you tried. They were inspirations to everyone they came in contact with. They will be missed. We pray for Dan's family as well and hope he will have a speedy recovery.

Anonymous | 8:46 a.m. Aug. 25, 2008

I Reed in the press of Guatemala, the information is The tragic accident occurred yesterday at 9.40 am, in a PARE farming village of La Puente, in the town of Cabins, Zacapa. The Americans are deceased Lydia Silva, Roger Alan Jensen, Zachary Jensen Alan Jensen, Cody Ray Odekirk, John Carter and Ronald Jeffrey Reppe, besides Guatemalans Javier Rabanales, representative of the organization in Guatemala Choice Humanitarian, and his wife, Tobar of Walfred Rabanales. He added that it would have been better than falling on his lemon tree, then perhaps they would have cushioned the fall of the apparatus. Abraham Marroquin, deputy mayor of La Puente, have expressed shocked at the moment that Sarah Jensen, claimed to heaven, crying. "I saw when the girl was hinc to beg God that people who were on the plane were saved," said Marroquï¿½n. April Marie, mother of Sarah, also survived. The corpses of the victims were transferred into two helicopters, at 16 hours yesterday, to the morgue of the National Institute of Forensic Sciences. Meanwhile, the wounded were detained in hospital El Pilar.

David Diaz | 9:16 a.m. Aug. 25, 2008

The Americans are deceased Lydia Silva, Roger Alan Jensen, Zachary Jensen Alan Jensen, Cody Ray Odekirk, John Carter and Ronald Jeffrey Reppe, besides Guatemalans Javier Rabanales, representative of the organization in Guatemala Choice Humanitarian, and his wife, Tobar of Walfred Rabanales. e added that it would have been better than falling on his lemon tree, then perhaps they would have cushioned the fall of the apparatus. Abraham Marroquin, deputy mayor of La Puente, have expressed shocked at the moment that Sarah Jensen, claimed to heaven, crying. "I saw when the girl was hinc to beg God that people who were on the plane were saved," said Marroquï¿½n.

April Marie, mother of Sarah, also survived.

Meghan | 9:25 a.m. Aug. 25, 2008

My prayers and heart felt concern go out to the Rabanales and their family. They are close friends of my parents who also travel for humanitarian work down to Guatemala. They are good, good people. Walfred was always so giving of her time and service and always tried hard to make the Americans feel at home. She was a wonderful woman.

Anonymous | 11:02 a.m. Aug. 25, 2008

Just received word that Liz Johnson passed away during the night?

anonymus | 11:10 a.m. Aug. 25, 2008

I have been informed that Liz Johnson passed away last night in the hospital in Guatemala.

My thoughts and prayers go out to those who have been affected by this horrible tragedy.

David Diaz | 11:19 a.m. Aug. 25, 2008

An American sister, a survivor of plane crash yesterday in Zacapa, died today in a private hospital in the Guatemalan capital, which amounted to 11 the number of people killed in this incident.

The deceased was identified this morning as Liz Johnson, who along with three others was transferred air from the scene of the incident.

My condolences to the families dede Liz Johnson and 10 other victims in this accident pray for you

Shane Clark | 12:57 p.m. Aug. 25, 2008

The Guatemalan press has just reported that one of the survivors passed away this morning. According to the Prensa Libre, Liz Johnson, the group's leader died this morning due to injuries she sustained in the accident.

Unbelievable how sad this story is.

Anonymous | 4:27 p.m. Aug. 25, 2008

Liz Johnson passed away at 3:15 am this morning from injuries.
Her husband is staying here in Utah waiting.

God Bless them all.

Gretchen Anderson | 3:00 p.m. Aug. 27, 2008

Liz was a wonderful woman, mother and friend. Her family will miss her terribly. I know she would want us to continue to support Choice.

steve payne | 9:22 p.m. Aug. 27, 2008

please pray for pam and ron reppe jeff's loving parents

Lydia's friends from sterling ro | 3:54 a.m. Aug. 28, 2008

Lydia, you will always be in our hearts, always be missed so much! We love you dearly. You'r children shall always know you were the best mommy ever! We pray for your family "may god be with them".

Keith | 12:43 a.m. Aug. 29, 2008

We will never forget these people...They will live in our hearts forever. God bless their families and loved ones. My heart is full and I want so much to wake up and find this all to be a bad dream!

Anonymous | 7:28 p.m. Sept. 3, 2008

I tried to think long and hard of someone who didn't like jeff...and I couldn't...this world has lost an amazing heart felt person...and a great friend willing to be there for u know matter what...r family will never forget u and what u ment to us...u were part of r family and I hope u knew that...RIP...

Valorie Thompson | 7:03 a.m. May 4, 2009

I knew John Carter. He was a very special person and will be missed. My heart goes out to all those that lost love ones. This is a horrible tragedy.

Missing Lydia Silva | 1:07 a.m. July 17, 2009

It's almost one year and we are missing Lydia more than words could ever say! We can't help but wonder Why?... Her children miss her and it just is not fair that we lost so many good people We miss you Lydia! We will one day agin see you up in heaven.

Add your comment

Comments are monitored. Any comments found to be abusive, offensive, off-topic, misrepresentative, more than 200 words or containing URLs will not be posted.

Words Remaining

E-mail address: For internal use only. We may want to contact you to publish your comment (not your e-mail address) in the newspaper or for a separate story idea.