Kingman — The bodies of Tatum Meins and Sherene “Siri” Walema were escorted to Kingman’s home by the Kingman Fire Department and Mohave County Sheriff’s Office one week after they lost their lives in a car accident.
Hundreds of community members lined up on Beale Street across from Lee Williams High School as Mines and Walema accompanied families and first responders from Lake Havasu City to separate funeral homes in Kingman.April On Thursday, 17-year-old Meins and 15-year-old Walema died when five LWHS students were involved in a capsize accident. Brady Shuffler and Cannon Cobanovich were hospitalized in Las Vegas and have since returned home. Riley File is still in the hospital.
Along with representing LWHS in red and black attire and signs, community members and students incorporated the girls’ favorite colors of pink and purple in balloons, signs, and ribbons. Dozens of fire engines, trucks and MCSO vehicles escorted her two hearses down Beale Street. Family, friends and members of her supportive community hugged each other as Meins, Walema, and her family passed by.
Kingman Police Department said Maynes was pronounced dead at the scene and Walema died after being taken to Kingman Regional Medical Center. Kingman, a nurse at her regional medical center, attended last Friday’s memorial service to offer her condolences and said she “fought hard” to save Walema.
Meins was preparing to graduate next month before heading to William Penn College. Just days before the accident, she signed a contract with the university to play softball. Meins is the daughter of her KFD Capitan Joey Meins, and a KFD fire truck escorted her and her Wilema, which made her more personal.
“Tatum is the child of one of the KFD captains. She is part of the KFD family,” KFD wrote on their Facebook page.
Walema was a freshman at LWHS and played with Meins on the high school softball team. The family rode motorcycles behind Walema as the two girls drove past the high school one last time. A classmate put up a sign saying how much he loved the two girls and that he would miss them.
As communities mourn, school officials are encouraging students, families and community members to use the resources available through the school during the grieving process locally and nationally. The Mojave County Public Health Department provides resources for students, families, faculty, and community members. Carrie Pastella, MCDPH Behavioral Health Coordinator, can be reached at 928-352-4209 or pastec@mohave.gov.
