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Podcasts Take Two
Orland bus crash: Family and friends mourn Jennifer Bonilla
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Apr 14, 2014
Listen • 3:23
Orland bus crash: Family and friends mourn Jennifer Bonilla
Authorities requested dental records and DNA to confirm she is one of five high school students who died Thursday in the fiery bus crash in Northern California. She was remembered as a star student with a knack for listening.
Jennifer Bonilla spent her whole life in Los Angeles. Friends say she was eager to head up north for college.
Jennifer Bonilla spent her whole life in Los Angeles. Friends say she was eager to head up north for college.
(
Courtesy Bonilla Family
)
Dorsey High School students remembered their friend Jennifer Bonilla as funny, kind and always having her nose in a book.
Dorsey High School students remembered their friend Jennifer Bonilla as funny, kind and always having her nose in a book.
(
Annie Gilbertson/KPCC
)
(
Annie Gilbertson/KPCC
)
Carmen Delgado, a relative of Jennifer Bonilla, preps flowers at the family's apartment in South Los Angeles. The door was open all day for friends and family to pay their respects.
Carmen Delgado, a relative of Jennifer Bonilla, preps flowers at the family's apartment in South Los Angeles. The door was open all day for friends and family to pay their respects.
(
Annie Gilbertson/KPCC
)
Jennifer Bonilla's brother-in-law, Luis Ordonez, decorates a box to collect donations for her funeral.
Jennifer Bonilla's brother-in-law, Luis Ordonez, decorates a box to collect donations for her funeral.
(
Annie Gilbertson, KPCC
)

Authorities requested dental records and DNA to confirm she is one of five high school students who died Thursday in the fiery bus crash in Northern California. She was remembered as a star student with a knack for listening.

Rosa Bonilla and her husband were driving to Las Vegas Thursday to renew their wedding vows. Then she got word that her sister, Jennifer Bonilla, may have been in that fiery bus crash in Northern California that claimed 10 lives. The happy trip turned somber as the couple returned to Los Angeles.

The lack of information and confusion about the survivors prompted Bonilla, her mother and other members of the family to drive seven hours to Orland, CA on little sleep early Friday morning.

An hour later, they turned back. The math sadly confirmed everything they needed to know.

"The sheriff notified us that 10 people were dead, five were kids, five were adults," Bonilla said. "And there was only five kids missing, and Jenny was in that list."

Related: Orland bus crash: FedEx semi didn't brake before crash

Jennifer was a 17-year-old who attended Dorsey High School in Los Angeles. She was described as a star student and was participating in a program to encourage kids to be the first in their family to attend college.