A Connecticut high school community held a vigil Monday night to honor a 17-year-old student who died in a car crash last week.
Julio Gomez, 17, was killed and two other victims were injured in Friday’s crash on the Danbury Road portion of Route 7, according to NBC affiliate WVIT-TV and CBS affiliate WFSB-TV .
The 17-year-old driver of the 2006 Infiniti G35 was driving in the right northbound lane while the driver of the 2002 Hyundai Tucson attempted to make a left turn from the left southbound lane, police told WFSB-TV.
The driver then attempted to enter a restaurant on Danbury Road before the cars collided with each other, as well as a 2014 Nissan Rogue traveling southbound on Route 7, police said.
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The driver of the Infiniti was taken to Danbury Hospital. She was listed in critical condition, WFSB-TV reported. Gomez, a passenger in the vehicle, was pronounced dead at Danbury Hospital.
The 17-year-old driver of the Rogue is in stable condition, while the 29-year-old passenger is in critical condition, according to the paper, which reported that both were taken to a local hospital. The other driver refused medical attention at the scene.
The New Milford Police Department did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
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New Milford Superintendent Janet Parlato said in a statement that “Julio enjoyed attending New Milford High School athletic events and hanging out with his friends,” according to Connecticut Post.
Parlato went on to remember the teenager as “a caring young man who was looking forward to his senior year and going to college.”
Tributes continued to pour in as hundreds of students poured onto the front lawn of the high school for a vigil Monday night.
“Julio has always valued being part of the family,” Parlato said, according to the outlet. “His energy at events at New Milford High School and his infectious smile brought joy to those around him. He will always be remembered and missed.”
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Aeryn Crosskey, a senior at New Milford High School, told WVIT-TV that Gomez “brought a smile to everyone’s face and always made everyone laugh.”
According to his obituary, the teenager was “a remarkable young man who had a tremendous passion for both football and basketball.”
“But beyond his athletic prowess, he had a lively personality that lit up any room he entered. His infectious laugh and quick wit brought joy to all around him,” the obituary said. “His love for his mother, brother and father was immeasurable. He valued his family deeply and always went above and beyond to show his affection and support.”
“Although his time with us was tragically cut short, his memory will live forever in our hearts,” the obituary continued.
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There have been more than 172 crashes on the Danbury Road portion of Route 7, four of which were fatal, according to WVIT-TV. New Milford Mayor Pete Bass told the outlet that the road can be “very dangerous” because of the “excessive speeds on that route” as well as “a lot of businesses” in the area.
New Milford High School Principal Raymond Manka said in a statement that counseling and support services for the bereaved will continue throughout this week, according to WFSB-TV.
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Source: HIS Education