Family of teen killed in parking lot accident looking for answers Posted: Sunday, June 7, 2015 7:21 PM EDT Updated: Sunday, June 7, 2015 7:21 PM EDT 
 
 Family, friends, and loved one came together to remember Shana Chavez, the 16-year-old who died in an accident. Dozens met near Ellis Park in Cedar Rapids to remember the girl they say was so likable and was friends with everyone. Her closest friends could only cling to each other as they remember Chavez. 
 
 Family, friends, and loved one came together to remember Shana Chavez, the 16-year-old who died in an accident. Dozens met near Ellis Park in Cedar Rapids to remember the girl they say was so likable and was friends with everyone. Her closest friends could only cling to each other as they remember Chavez. 
 
 Local news and information for Iowa City, Coralville, North Liberty, Solon, Tiffin, Swisher, Hills, Lone Tree, Oxford, University Heights, Shueyville and all of Johnson County and the surrounding area. 
 
 Local news and information for Iowa City, Coralville, North Liberty, Solon, Tiffin, Swisher, Hills, Lone Tree, Oxford, University Heights, Shueyville and all of Johnson County and the surrounding area. 
 
 The family of a Cedar Rapids teenager killed is calling her death unnecessary. 
 
 16-year old Shana Chavez died Friday night in an accident at the Theisen's parking lot on 16th Avenue SW in Cedar Rapids. 
 
 Loved ones are still searching for answers trying to figure out exactly what happened. 
 
 "I understand that it's an accident, but whoever the people who were involved in this I just wish they would come forward and say that they're sorry," said Chevelle Chavez, Shana's sister. 
 
 However, police told us Sunday afternoon, they aren't looking for anyone. They do tell KWWL that Shana was hanging on the back of a car when the accident happened. 
 
 Saturday, nearly 100 people gathered to remember the 16-year-old Washington High School student. 
 
 The vigil was filled with tears and lit candles, only visual signs of the pain. 
 
 "It feels like a part of me is missing, because I don't have her here with me anymore," said Kylie Pabst with tear-filled eyes. "I'm not going to have that anymore." 
 
 Pabst was Shana's best friends since fourth grade. She says she was beautiful inside and out. 
 
 "[She was] inspiring," said Audrianna Cleveland, another one of Shana's friends. "I don't know what I'm going to do without her, I have no idea." 
 
 The teenager was killed just minutes after getting off the clock at Theisen's - a job she just recently got. 
 
 "She got off work like 15 minutes and then you know, made one mistake," said Chavez. 
 
 Shortly after 9:30 Friday night, Cedar Rapids police got to the parking lot of Theisen's and found the 16-year-old with very serious injuries, she was rushed to the hospital and later died of her injures. 
 
 The teen's family and friends can only cling to each other, trying to keep the spirit of a country girl they say loved the outdoors and could make anyone smile with just one word. 
 
 "So we're all trying to be strong for her," said Chavez. 
 
 The family says they are faced with the burden of not having the money the pay for Shana's funeral expenses. 
 
 The family set up a go fund me page to help pay for the funeral costs. 
 
 After high school shana wanted to pursue a career in photography. 

 Shana's Beautiful Soul 
 
 Shana was just your average Iowa girl who loved her family and friends with all of her heart and would do anything for someone in need. She enjoyed spending time with loved ones above anything, as well as doing normal teenage activities. Fishing and camping were a couple of her favorites. 
 
 
 
 Shana just recently turned 16, and had gotten a job at our local Thiesen's (a farm supply store). She was excited about both, and living a normal teenage life. 
 
 
 
 Shana was a beautiful 16 year old soul taken from this life too early. On 6/5/15 after her shift at work Shana fell off of the back of a friends car and hit her head, she passed away a short time later. Her life ended so abruptly and those she left behind are devastated. 
 
 
 
 Shana impacted everyone's life she was around in the most positive of ways. Always there with a smile or a funny face, a helping hand or a kind word. Shana will continue to do so for those in need through organ donation. 
 
 
 
 I (Shana's cousin) am setting up this GoFundMe account in Shana's name in hopes that it will help to pay for Shana's beautiful soul to be laid to rest. Although a price can not be put on a loved one and thier absense from our lives, any amount will help and will be so greatly appreciated. 
 
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 Local news and information for Cedar Rapids, Marion, Hiawatha, Center Point, Mt. Vernon, Central City, Robins, Alburnett, Fairfax, Palo, Ely, Lisbon, Springville and the surrounding Linn County area. 
 
 Local news and information for Cedar Rapids, Marion, Hiawatha, Center Point, Mt. Vernon, Central City, Robins, Alburnett, Fairfax, Palo, Ely, Lisbon, Springville and the surrounding Linn County area. 
 
 Car surfing is what investigators believed led to a Cedar Rapids teenager's death over the weekend. 
 
 The scary stunt is when someone is hanging on the outside of the car while the car is in motion. 
 
 Cedar Rapids Police say 16-year-old Shana Chavez was on the back bumper of an SUV a 17-year old male was driving in the parking lot of Theisens' in Cedar Rapids, Friday night. 
 
 Chavez fell suffering a traumatic injury, and later died. 
 
 "I find it disturbing," said a parent Bridget Stipanobich. "I've never heard of it until this incident. Think about your future, for a few minutes on a car, it's not worth it. hit a roller coaster or something, something more stable. it sounds ridiculous." 
 
 However, 18-year old Scott Swiontek says he has heard of it. 
 
 "I just know that people sometimes get on top of cars and I haven't really seen it or done it myself," said Swiontek. 
 
 The dangerous trend looks fun, but it can be fatal. 
 
 YouTube videos show thrill-seekers on the bumper, hood, roof, and other exteriors of a car while another person drivers fast in parking lots or streets. 
 
 "Oh that's risky let's do it. I think it's just the thrill you get out of it," said 16-year old Julieta Rangle. 
 
 Rangle says she's never done it, but thinks teens just like her should think before doing. 
 
 "Think about what could actually happened and not just think about the fun part," said Rangle. 
 
 During a vigil for Chavez's family, her sister told KWWL it was made a mistake Chavez made just minutes after getting off work, costing her life. 
 
 "You know, be smart. Learn form this experience, learn from all this pain we're going through now. She made one mistake," said Chavez's sister Chevelle Chavez." 
 
 "Thrill of it is definitely something, kind of like in the moment kind of thing," said Swiontek. "Then also there's peer pressure too, if somebody says 'oh hey we should try this it'll be really cool.'" 
 
 Investigators are working with the Linn County Attorney's Office to see whether criminal activity - if any - was a factor in the accident. 
 
 However, Greg Buelow, Cedar Rapids Police spokesperson says that is standard with any case being investigated. 

 A tragic "car surfing" accident led to a teenage girl's death over the weekend, Iowa police said Thursday. 
 
 Sixteen-year-old Shana Chavez and another girl were riding on the back bumper of an SUV, while a 17-year-old male drove around a parking lot of a Theisen's Home, Farm and Auto store on Friday night, Cedar Rapids police said. 
 
 At some point, Chavez fell from the car, suffering a traumatic injury and later died at a nearby hospital. 
 
 Police believe "car surfing" led to Cedar Rapids teenager Shana Chavez' death. via KWWL 
 
 "When you consider that we require that people be belted inside the car for their safety, standing on the roof of the car, on the hood, or on the back bumper while a vehicle is moving is extremely dangerous," said Cedar Rapids Public Safety Officer Greg Buelow. "Car surfing can turn deadly with just one wrong movement by the driver or the person riding." 
 
 During a vigil for the family, sibling Chevelle Chavez told NBC affiliate KWWL it was a mistake her sister made just minutes after getting off work, costing her life. 
 
 "You know, be smart. Learn from this experience, learn from all this pain we're going through now," said Chevelle Chavez. "She made one mistake." 
 
 Services were held Thursday morning at Murdoch Funeral Home in Cedar Rapids, according her obituary. 
 
 It is unclear whether any charges will be pressed in the case while it is still under investigation, officials said.
– A family is warning about the dangers of "car surfing" after a 16-year-old died in Iowa. Shana Chavez had just gotten off work at a Theisen's farm supply store last Friday when she and another girl hopped on the back bumper of an SUV while a 17-year-old male drove around the parking lot. At some point, Shana fell from the vehicle, NBC News reports. Cedar Rapids police found Shana with serious injuries around 9:30pm, reports KWWL, and she later died at a hospital. "She got off work like 15 minutes [before] and then you know, made one mistake," says sister Chevelle. Police initially told KWWL they were investigating whether anyone should be charged in the case, but they now say they aren't looking for anyone involved. "When you consider that we require that people be belted inside the car for their safety, standing on the roof of the car, on the hood, or on the back bumper while a vehicle is moving is extremely dangerous," an officer says. "Car surfing can turn deadly with just one wrong movement by the driver or the person riding." "Be smart. Learn from this experience, learn from all this pain we're going through now," Chevelle adds. "Hit a roller coaster or something," a local parent says. A GoFundMe page, set up to help with funeral expenses, describes Shana as a girl who loved the outdoors, "loved her family and friends with all of her heart and would do anything for someone in need." (Earlier this year, a woman was killed by her own empty car.)