Family and friends of a 20-year-old Barstow High School graduate who died in a car crash in Lenwood last week are waiting for answers in the young man's death while trying to come to grips with losing him.

Dusty Aaron Cox, 20, died early last Wednesday morning when the car he was riding in crashed into a telephone pole on Lenwood Road, about a half mile west of Interstate 15. Police cited a 16-year-old girl, who suffered minor injuries in the crash, on suspicion of driving under the influence of intoxicants.

Cox's mother, Patty Cox, said that on the night of his death, Dusty borrowed a friend's car after getting a call from the 16-year-old girl, whose name was not released because of her age, saying that she was in some sort of trouble. The girl had been at the Cox family home earlier in the night and Dusty had already called a friend once to arrange a ride home for her. Patty said that to her knowledge, her son had not been drinking.

The family still does not know what took place after Dusty left the house, Patty said.

"It's an uncertainty on what all happened, and that's probably the hardest thing," she said. "The only thing we actually truly, truly know is that our loved one died helping a friend."

As of Friday, Barstow Police Department officials declined to release any further information in the ongoing investigation.

City spokesman John Rader said Wednesday that Dusty and the girl were the only occupants of the car. Friends of Cox, who were helping with a fundraiser car wash to raise money for his funeral Friday, questioned that report, saying that other occupants of the car had fled the scene and that the 16-year-old girl was not the driver.

Cox's immediate family members said simply that they are waiting for the results of the police investigation.

A much-loved son, brother and friend

Friends and family members recalled 20-year-old Dusty Cox as an energetic, happy-go-lucky young man who loved the outdoors and would do anything to help a friend.

Whether he was playing basketball with kids from the neighborhood in Grandview, where he lived with his family, playing with his Great Dane, Lucky, teasing his little sister, or riding dirt bikes with his brother, Cox was always on the go.

As many as 30 people gathered each night after his death to hold a vigil at the scene of the crash, where family and friends have erected a small shrine, said Cox's brother Donald Bryant, Jr. Cox' mother Patty Cox said the Barstow community had shown "unbelievable love" towards the family since the news of his death came out. Dusty's outgoing personality made him a well-known figure around town.

"He would talk to anyone. It didn't matter if they were female, male, black, white, green or blue," Bryant, Jr., said.

Family members and supporters held car washes and bake sales throughout the weekend to raise money for Dusty's funeral expenses.