HARRIS COUNTY, Texas – Hundreds of classmates, friends, parents and teachers gathered Sunday night to honor the Klein I.S.D. student who was killed in a car crash on the way to his high school graduation.
Omar Rodas, 18, was supposed to walk in the Klein Forest High School commencement ceremony Saturday morning. His name was called, but he never made it to his graduation.
Houston police confirm one person was killed in a car crash at about 7:10 a.m. Saturday in the 2000 block of the North Freeway.
Police said a black Honda Accord was traveling south on the freeway when the driver veered out of his lane and hit the back end of a dump truck. At the same time, an SUV veered in front of the dump truck and was hit. According to police, a passenger in the Honda died.
Police have not released the victim's name, but family, friends and school district officials say it was Rodas.
Classmates organized the candlelight vigil Sunday night in front of Klein Forest High School.
"He didn't get to walk, but the best thing to do is just to be here and honor him," Rodas' sister told the crowd.
Many at the vigil wore red, Rodas' favorite color, and those in the class of 2015 donned their graduation caps.
Shira Warren, a friend and co-worker of Rodas' from Babin's Seafood House, said he worked so hard to be able to graduate with his class and that he was hopeful for the future.
"He was excited about graduating. He was nervous, but he was so ready to do it. He was happy," Warren said.
The school district made grief counselors available during and after the vigil.
More than $6,000 had been raised by Sunday night on a GoFundMe account set up by Rodas' classmates to help his family cover funeral expenses.
