14-year-old Diego Fernandez remembered by family, friends

Friends and family gathered Tuesday to celebrate the life of Diego Fernandez.

Fernandez,14, was killed in a crash Friday on Interstate 10 near Redd road involving two tractor-trailers and the truck he was riding in.

“Today we honor our good friend Diego Fernandez,” one classmate said Tuesday evening.

Family members, teachers and students wore a black soccer ball-shaped patch with No. 7 representing Fernandez’s number on the school’s soccer team.

School administrators retired soccer jersey No. 7 and handed the jersey to Fernandez’s oldest brother, Guadalupe.

“He had a great future he wanted to be a soccer player,” Guadalupe Fernandez said.

Diego’s youngest brother Julio held a soccer ball teammates signed for the family.

Some of Fernandez’s best friends spoke about him.

“Diego was a really smart kid,” said one of them.

Others said they could still here his voice in the hallways.

“Diego, you will not be forgotten,” said another friend.

The school band also honored Fernandez as well.

Students wrote their farewells on balloons hoping Fernandez will see them in the skies.

“He was a great kid,” said Guadalupe Fernandez.

Gaudalupe Fernandez told ABC-7 both his parents, who were also in the crash, are doing better. His father is talking now and his mother woke up Monday.