Hundreds of students, relatives and residents gathered at Liberty High School in Brentwood, California, for a candlelight vigil honouring Dominic Ferrari and Caden Kyle, two 17-year-olds killed in a weekend car crash.
Friends, classmates and school staff took to the stage to remember the teenagers, who were members of the school’s football team and were described by those who knew them as funny, kind and outgoing.
“Your story ended too soon, but the love you gave us will never stop being read,” one student told the crowd. “Forever Lions, love the Class of 2027.”
Liberty High students remembered at candlelight vigil
Ferrari and Kyle died shortly after midnight on Sunday, 13 September, when the silver Infiniti they were travelling in collided with a BMW near the junction of Deer Valley Road and Balfour Road, on the Antioch-Brentwood boundary.
Antioch police said two people in the Infiniti died at the scene. A third 17-year-old passenger was injured, while the driver of the BMW was also hurt.
Shaun Samuels, a friend of Ferrari’s family, said the support shown at the vigil reflected how widely the two teenagers were loved.
“They were so well loved, and just amazing human beings, and the love and support that’s coming in, it’s incredible to see that,” he said.
Therapist Julie Garcia said the teenagers had a positive influence on those around them.
“They were kind people, they lift people up, and that’s what people need, and that’s why their loss has been such an impact,” she said.
School offers counselling after Brentwood crash
Liberty High made grief counsellors available to students and staff as the school community dealt with the deaths. Principal Efa Huckaby also confirmed that a homecoming rally and dance had been postponed.
“They definitely had a community, and you’re seeing that outpouring of love here for them and their family to just really support and, you know, grieve together, heal together, move on together when that time is right,” Huckaby said.
Fundraising campaigns have been established to help the families of Ferrari and Kyle, with supporters describing the response from the local community as overwhelming.
Patricia Piquero, a friend of the Ferrari family, said: “I know the support has been overwhelming for the families and they’re appreciative, and I’m thankful to be a part of a community like this.”
Antioch police are continuing to investigate the collision. The department said the crash happened at about 12.11am and involved a white BMW and a silver Infiniti.
Investigators do not believe alcohol or drugs were factors. They are examining whether darkness and limited visibility on the rural road may have contributed to the crash.
