Socorro High School student remembers classmate killed in fatal accident

A life cut short — that’s what some Socorro High School students told ABC-7 about a classmate involved in a fatal collision.

The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office said a driver veered into oncoming traffic on Horizon Boulevard and crashed head-on with another vehicle causing a five car collision Thursday. They identified the person killed as 17-year-old Sonnie Do.

“When I heard the news from our friend Gabby, I was speechless, I dropped the phone,” said Manny Diaz.

Diaz, a Socorro High School senior said hearing the news of Do’s death was almost unbelievable.

“I couldn’t stop myself from crying. I was crying and crying and crying,” Diaz said.

Diaz told ABC-7 many of Do’s classmates found out about his death Friday morning.

“At around 8:30 the hallways were … everywhere you go there was people crying, people weeping, people getting out of control, screaming, literally and people were taken to the office to talk to a councilor,” Diaz said.

Diaz said Do was a stand-up student who was always there for his friends.

“You couldn’t have the baddest day ever and he could just come up to you and smile and go to your shoulder and say everything’s going to be OK with a smile on his face. He would always say there’s always going to be a way to solve this problem. We are not permanent in this world, not even our problems and that was his quote,” Diaz said.

As many seniors prepared for graduation day, Diaz says Do will be remembered.

“He touched a lot of hearts and he will touch a lot of hearts,” Diaz said.