10 a.m.By MARSHA DORGAN

Register Staff Writer

A Napa teenager, the daughter of a prominent Napa surgeon, was killed Sunday evening in a solo-pickup crash on First Avenue in east Napa.

Veronica Zimmermann, 17, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to California Highway Patrol Officer Jaret Paulson.

She is the daughter of Napa plastic surgeon John Zimmermann and Bianca Zimmermann.

Veronica Zimmermann, a senior at Vintage High School, was the front-seat passenger in a 2005 Chevrolet Silverado crew cab pickup driven by a 17-year-old Napa boy, Paulson said.

Authorities are not releasing the name of the driver, pending further investigation, Paulson said.

The driver, along with two other passengers, Britney Moore, 17, and her sibling, Holly Moore, 15, both of Napa, were treated for minor injuries at Queen of the Valley Medical Center and released, Paulson said.

The fatal accident happened around 9 p.m., on First Avenue, south of Hagen Road.

The driver of the pickup attempted to negotiate some “S” curves in the road and lost control of the pickup, Paulson said.

The vehicle rolled and slammed into a power pole, coming to rest on its top, he said.

“It looks as if the passenger side of the pickup took the brunt of the hit with the power pole,” he said.

“Vivacious, loving, caring and full of life” are the words her parents used to describe their beloved teenage daughter.

“She had a personality that never ended. She was compassionate and the first one to step in, in a crisis,” her mother said. “She wanted to be a nurse. That was just the way she was. Veronica cared so much about others, she just wanted to help.”

Bianca recalled her young daughter’s love for babies and small children.

“She had a knack for connecting with kids. She baby-sat and just loved being with the kids. And they loved her so much,” Bianca said. “Veronica had big dreams. She also loved music and to take photos. It’s so hard right now to even concentrate on what has happened. It’s like shell shock.”

Zimmermann’s father remembered the little girl from Brazil suffering from significant facial deformities who was brought to Napa for his plastic surgery.

“Veronica, who speaks fluent Spanish, connected with the little girl. Veronica was in fifth grade. She took the little girl to her classroom and introduced her to all of her classmates. She took the child under her wing,” John Zimmermann said. “That was just the way she was. Our daughter was a very generous and caring person. She was the type that if she saw someone get hurt, she was the first person there to put on the Band-Aid.”

Zimmermann’s good friend Danielle Herman said she could always count on Zimmermann to be there in a time of need.

“We’ve been friends since first grade. I lost my mom last November and Veronica was there for me — I mean really there for me. When things got tough, I could always count on her to be there to hold my head and comfort me,” Herman said. “I can’t believe she is gone.”

Michelle Tubman echoed Herman’s recollection of their close friend.

“Veronica was always so generous. If you needed gas money, she was there. If you needed a shoulder to lean on she was there. And she never asked for anything in return,” Tubman said. “You don’t meet too many friends like that in your lifetime.”

Zimmermann had just transferred this school year to Vintage High after attending her freshman, sophomore and junior years at Justin-Siena.

Alicia Vadivia was Zimmermann’s counselor when she attended Justin-Siena.

“Veronica was one of my favorite students. She was so caring and generous with her friends. Veronica had a lot of potential,” Vadivia said. “And she so loved her brother and parents. She always wanted to make them proud of her, and I’m sure she did.”

CHP Sgt. Elfido Montez said the four teens  left the house on Sunday night to drop off one of the passengers to pick up their car at work.

“We are looking at several different things that could have caused the accident, such as speed and the inexperience of the young driver, who is just devastated about all of this,” Montez said.

All of the victims were wearing seat belts.

Paulson said Monday morning that neither alcohol nor drugs are considered factors in the collision.

In addition to her parents, Zimmermann is survived by her 16-year-old brother Jean-Paul Zimmermann.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m., Thursday at St. Apollinaris Catholic Church, followed by a reception at the church hall.