A birthday balloon attached to a white cross on the side of
Union Road fluttered in the crisp wind and spitting rain Tuesday
afternoon. Printed in bold, black letters was the name Adam Baxter,
who died in an alcohol-related car accident Sunday morning and
would have celebrated his 21st birthday Tuesday.
Hollister – A birthday balloon attached to a white cross on the side of Union Road fluttered in the crisp wind and spitting rain Tuesday afternoon. Printed in bold, black letters was the name Adam Baxter, who died in an alcohol-related car accident Sunday morning and would have celebrated his 21st birthday Tuesday.
A baseball hat, photos of smiling friends and vibrant bouquets of flowers also adorned the cross put up for the man whose New Year’s resolution was to “live life to the fullest, because we never know when we’re gonna go,” said his childhood friend Mark Soshee.
“He would drop everything in the world to help me,” Soshee said. “Adam would want me to keep living my life and do good for him. I’ve got to keep my head up – there’s no other way.”
Baxter was a natural athlete, playing football and baseball and wrestling for the San Benito High School team until he graduated in 2002, said his father, Bruce Baxter. After high school he wrestled at Moorpark Junior College in Southern California and was on his way to Cabrillo Junior College in Aptos in the spring to continue with his education, his father said.
“He was the ultimate ‘no details’ guy – what I’m doing right this minute is what’s important,” he said. “That’s what we loved most about him. He was just a breath of fresh air.”
Baxter’s physical prowess and natural leadership were qualities he never recognized in himself, but were apparent to those around him, his dad said.
Matt Olejnik, Baxter’s high school wrestling coach, said the seniors on the team this year who knew Baxter are determined to draw on the intensity Baxter exhibited when he was wrestling. The team plans to get patches in remembrance of Baxter for their sweat suits, and name an award after him, Olejnik said.
“We are going to name our most inspirational award the ‘Adam Baxter Award,’ based on one of the most inspirational people. And that will become our most valued award,” Olejnik said. “As long as I’m with the program I will talk about his mental toughness and his level of wrestling, and his passion for life.”
Baxter was also a motorcycle enthusiast, receiving his first motorcycle from his dad when he was 5 years old. While on a motorcycle trip last week his father mentioned some of these qualities to his son, he said.
“He had the typical 20-year-old (answer), that he hadn’t done this and he hadn’t done that – he was pretty humble about it all,” his father said. “Now I think about all the parents that have to struggle with their children and don’t have the relationship that we did. We look back, and there’s no regrets. We’re very proud of him.”
Baxter was killed Sunday when he was thrown through the windshield of San Juan Bautista resident Matthew Engwall’s 1997 Ford Thunderbird after the car drifted into a ditch and overturned, according to the California Highway Patrol. Baxter was not wearing a seat belt.
CHP officers said Baxter’s 21-year-old best friend had been drinking, and he was arrested with two counts of felony driving under the influence and felony gross vehicular manslaughter. Engwall could face a maximum of 10 years in prison, or if the charges are reduced, up to a year in county jail and probation, according to the probation department.
Baxter’s official cause of death was multiple blunt force trauma, but the Santa Clara County Coroner’s Office won’t have a final toxicology report for at least six weeks, said spokeswoman Rosie Dominguez. Engwall’s exact blood alcohol level won’t be released until the San Benito County District Attorney’s Office receives the report, which won’t be for a week or two, said District Attorney John Sarsfield.
Chief Probation Officer Deborah Botts said it’s common to have felony charges reduced to misdemeanors with lighter sentences for situations such as Engwall’s.
Over the past couple days, Engwall and many of Baxter’s other friends have crowded the Baxter home, lending their support in the family’s time of need, Bruce Baxter said. He wasn’t willing to talk about possible consequences for his son’s best friend. Engwall has spent much of the time since the accident at the Baxter household, grieving with the family.
“If somebody wants to step back and throw stones, I’m not taking any part of that,” he said. “Matt here at my house says enough.”
Baxter’s father said Engwall wasn’t ready to talk about the accident Tuesday.
Soshee said Engwall is having a tough time coping, but Baxter’s family and friends have rallied around him in support.
“One of the first things Bruce told me was, ‘We’ve got to be there for Matt right now,” Soshee said. “He said, ‘Keep that kid’s head up because he’s going to need support more than any of us.”
Students at San Benito High School who may have known Baxter had the opportunity to talk to a counselor about the tragedy Tuesday, said Assistant Principal Crystal Lomanto.
Lomanto had Baxter in biology class several years ago and said he was a popular student with a great sense of humor.
“He always played devil’s advocate,” she said. “He was a joy to have in class and I’m going to miss him terribly.”
A memorial service for Baxter will be held Friday at noon at San Juan Oaks Golf Club. Donations can be made to the Adam Baxter Memorial Wrestling Scholarship through the mortuary office at Grunnagle-Ament-Nelson Funeral Home.
Erin Musgrave covers public safety for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637-5566, ext. 336 or
em*******@fr***********.com
