Man, 19, still critical after crash

Family, friends keep vigil at MJC student's bedside

By ROGER W. HOSKINS
rhoskins@modbee.com

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Mauricio Alaniz, a 19-year-old Turlock man and Modesto Junior College basketball player, remained in critical condition in an intensive care unit on Thursday, battling to recover from an auto accident the day before.

Family members kept a vigil by his side at Memorial Medical Center as they waited for what one called the next critical 48 hours.

Friends showed their support by posting get-well wishes on the young man's Christian-themed Web page.

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Victim battles for life

Juan Alaniz, Mauricio's uncle who coached him in basketball at Turlock High, said it was a difficult time for the family. He said swelling in the brain has increased but vital signs were stable. "The doctor explained that there was severe brain and brain stem damage," Alaniz said.

"We're hoping he'll come out of the coma. There's a tube in his head draining fluid," said Alaniz, a pastor at Big Valley Grace.

"He's a saved young man. ... He loved Jesus," Alaniz said. "He was looking forward to playing hoops at MJC."

The younger Alaniz was serving as a music technician for Spanish services at the church and he was involved with the church's high school group.

"He played for me at Turlock and we averaged 20 wins, and we won a championship his last season. It wasn't because of my coaching," Alaniz recalled.

Mauricio Alaniz's current coach at Modesto Junior College, Paul Brogan, said he had seen his player at the hospital Wednesday night. He said the team had been told the grim prognosis and they were grieving.

"They are having a hard time," Brogan said. "They are at that age when they think they're invincible."

The California Highway Patrol reported that Alaniz sustained life-threatening injuries during a crash Wednesday when a 60-year-old Riverbank woman swerved into his sport utility vehicle on McHenry Avenue north of Kiernan Avenue.

The other driver, Cherry Crawford, was seriously injured but her life didn't appear threatened, the CHP reported.

Alaniz's friends and teammates left get-well wishes and prayers at his MySpace page on the Internet. An unidentified basketball teammate's entry was typical:

"Mo I know u will read tis cuz I know that no one that has as great of a (heart) like yours will (fail) to (come) out of this all right. ... I never thought that a teammate could really be this close of a friend. ... u r like my brother. ... u walk on the side of God. ... u do nothing but great things. ... u r my hero Mo and I cant wait to see u better. ... fight with all your (heart) Mo."

Bee staff writer Roger Hoskins can be reached at rhoskins@modbee.com or 578-2311.