By Diana Lucio Reporter
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Published: Thu, December 27, 2007 - 10:25 pm
Last Updated: Fri, December 28, 2007 - 11:33 pm
Diana Lucio
His mother Evangelina Figueroa says her family immigrated from Mexico three years ago, where Velez was also born. But despite a cultural barrier she says Velez has touched many lives. "He didn't care what anyone else thought, he just wanted to let me know that he loved me,"Said Kristi Williams, Velez' Girlfriend.
Michael McCants says he and Velez were best friends. He says the two were walking along McCrary Road Sunday afternoon when he says they tried to cross the road and an RV drove by striking Velez, who later died.
Figueroa says the accident is a tragic coincidence to an accident that claimed Velez' birth father's life in Mexico 14 years ago. "My husband died the same way, he was a transit patrol, he was on his motorcycle on duty when a truck hit him from the back and he was also killed instantly," Said Figueroa.
She says while they try to cope with her son's tragic death, they hope they can afford his funeral arrangements. Figueroa says she and her husband, Velez' Step Father have been out of work for several weeks. Meantime friends of the teen have helped raise eight-hundred dollars for the family. The family plans to hold a funeral service in Wilmer, but they hope to bury the teen in Mexico near his father. Friends are accepting donations on behalf of the family at Snow Road Baptist Church in Semmes. For more information you can call 251-649-7722.
Authorities believe alcohol may have been involved. Results for toxicology tests taken at the time of the accident may take weeks or months, to determine if alcohol was a factor.
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David was a very nice and respectful person and he will be missed very much. He was a very good friend to my sister and she nor my family will never forget him.