APOPKA, Fla. – The Apopka community is grieving after three teenagers were killed in a crash early Sunday morning along East Welch Road.
Florida Highway Patrol said the crash happened around 1:30 a.m. near Wekiva Drive, when the pickup truck the teens were riding in struck a tree along a curve in the road.
[VIDEO: 3 killed in Apopka pickup rollover crash involving only teens, troopers say]
Troopers identified the victims as 17-year-old Enrique Sabas, 17-year-old Julio Lopez, and 13-year-old Leyner Velazquez.
Three other teens, ages 17, 15, and 14, were also in the truck and suffered serious injuries, investigators said.
On Monday night, more than 100 people gathered near the crash site for a vigil honoring the victims. Mourners brought flowers, balloons, and candles.
“I’m trying to come here and bring as much peace as I can to anybody out there that is hurting,” said Christian Gutierrez, a classmate of Lopez. “It shows a lot that people care. People have the heart to show empathy for other people.”
[VIDEO: 3 teens, including 13-year-old, ID’d in fatal Apopka rollover crash]
The mother of Enrique Sabas was among those at the vigil, breaking down in tears as friends and classmates offered comfort.
Inside Apopka High School, grief counselors were available Monday to support students.
“For somebody who did go to school today, we had the media center the whole day with counselors,” said Lydiani Cruz, a classmate. “It was a lot of people that came in, some in groups, others privately. Everyone’s hurting.”
Friends described Lopez as kind and generous.
“He’s a person with a big heart and a lot of sincerity,” one classmate said. “He tends to care about others even if he doesn’t know them.”
FHP said the crash remains under investigation.