About 150 people gathered at West High School on Friday night to honor students who were killed Thursday in a downtown Salt Lake City car crash.
The students, identified by police Friday as 17-year-old Vidal Pacheco and 18-year-old Dylan Hernandez, were passengers in a car driven by a third teen who was also a student.
Students and community members with tears glistening in their eyes held candles as they heard two stories about the boys. One girl, Belen, mentioned that the shy, sweet Hernandez would help her with math year after year and buy her food when she would "sluff" class with him. He would share raps he'd written with her, but she said they sounded more like poetry.
Pacheco was outgoing and had an infectious smile, said MJ Powell, a senior involved in student government at the school. He would often joke around with classmates.
Both teens loved cars, classmates said, and had been best friends, hardly going anywhere without the other. Witnesses to the tragic crash told police the teens appeared to be racing another car on 300 West about 11:30 a.m. Thursday, said Salt Lake City police Detective Cody Lougy, reaching speeds in excess of 70 mph.
The teens' car jumped a landscaped island near 700 North and collided head-on with an SUV driven by a 32-year-old woman who was seven to eight months pregnant, Lougy said. She later gave birth at a hospital and both she and her baby were listed in serious condition. The teenage driver — also mentioned at Friday's vigil — was likewise in serious condition at a hospital.
Police said Friday that they had located another vehicle believed to have been racing with the other car.
Powell helped organize the vigils, where those gathered wrote messages on banners, quietly sang the school song and left behind flowers and balloons in memory of the teens. Powell also set up a fundraising page for the teens' families. The family of the woman injured in the crash has also set up a page for her.
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Al Hartmann | The Salt Lake Tribune Salt Lake Police investigate accident scene at 700 North 300 West Thursday Feb. 16. Two cars were involved with three fatalities. The blue car going northbound along 300 West skidded, jumped the median and struck a southbound SUV.
Al Hartmann | The Salt Lake Tribune Salt Lake Police investigate accident scene at 700 North 300 West Thursday Feb. 16. Two cars were involved with three fatalities. The blue car going northbound along 300 West skidded, jumped the median and struck a southbound SUV.
Al Hartmann | The Salt Lake Tribune Salt Lake Police investigate accident scene at 700 North 300 West Thursday Feb. 16. Two cars were involved with three fatalities. The blue car going northbound along 300 West skidded, jumped the median and struck a southbound SUV.
Al Hartmann | The Salt Lake Tribune Salt Lake Police investigate accident scene at 700 North 300 West Thursday Feb. 16. Two cars were involved with three fatalities. The blue car going northbound along 300 West skidded, jumped the median and struck a southbound SUV.
Al Hartmann | The Salt Lake Tribune Salt Lake Police investigate accident scene at 700 North 300 West Thursday Feb. 16. Two cars were involved with three fatalities. The blue car going northbound along 300 West skidded, jumped the median and struck a southbound SUV.
Al Hartmann | The Salt Lake Tribune Salt Lake Police investigate accident scene at 700 North 300 West Thursday Feb. 16. Two cars were involved with three fatalities. The blue car going northbound along 300 West skidded, jumped the median and struck a southbound SUV.
Al Hartmann | The Salt Lake Tribune Salt Lake Police investigate accident scene at 700 North 300 West Thursday Feb. 16. Two cars were involved with three fatalities. The blue car going northbound along 300 West skidded, jumped the median and struck a southbound SUV.
Al Hartmann | The Salt Lake Tribune Salt Lake Police investigate accident scene at 700 North 300 West Thursday Feb. 16. Two cars were involved with three fatalities. The blue car going northbound along 300 West skidded, jumped the median and struck a southbound SUV. Police look at skid marks lower right.
Al Hartmann | The Salt Lake Tribune Salt Lake Police investigate accident scene at 700 North 300 West Thursday Feb. 16. Two cars were involved with three fatalities. The blue car going northbound along 300 West skidded, jumped the median and struck a southbound SUV.
Al Hartmann | The Salt Lake Tribune Salt Lake Police investigate accident scene at 700 North 300 West Thursday Feb. 16. Two cars were involved with three fatalities. The blue car going northbound along 300 West skidded, jumped the median and struck a southbound SUV.
Al Hartmann | The Salt Lake Tribune Salt Lake Police investigate accident scene at 700 North 300 West Thursday Feb. 16. Two cars were involved with three fatalities. The blue car going northbound along 300 West skidded, jumped the median and struck a southbound SUV. Police look at skid marks lower right.
Al Hartmann | The Salt Lake Tribune Salt Lake Police investigate accident scene at 700 North 300 West Thursday Feb. 16. Two cars were involved with three fatalities. The blue car going northbound along 300 West skidded, jumped the median and struck a southbound SUV. Police look at skid marks lower right.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Denise Hevner a welding teacher at West High School tries to process the loss of one of her students as she visits the scene of an early Thursday morning accident. Two West High School seniors were killed and two others - another student, and a pregnant woman were seriously injured in a Thursday morning head-on collision north of the school.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Denise Hevner a welding teacher at West High School tries to process the loss of one of her students as she visits the scene of an early Thursday morning accident. Two West High School seniors were killed and two others - another student, and a pregnant woman were seriously injured in a Thursday morning head-on collision north of the school.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Denise Hevner a welding teacher at West High School tries to process the loss of one of her students as she visits the scene of an early Thursday morning accident. Two West High School seniors were killed and two others - another student, and a pregnant woman were seriously injured in a Thursday morning head-on collision north of the school.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Skid marks, car oil, investigation paint and a damaged business front marks the scene of a deadly accident along 300 West and 700 North in Salt Lake on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017. Two West High School seniors were killed and two others - another student, and a pregnant woman were seriously injured in a Thursday morning head-on collision north of the school.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Skid marks, car oil and investigation paint mark the scene of a deadly accident along 300 West and 700 North in Salt Lake on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017. Two West High School seniors were killed and two others - another student, and a pregnant woman were seriously injured in a Thursday morning head-on collision north of the school.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Skid marks, car oil and investigation paint mark the scene of a deadly accident along 300 West and 700 North in Salt Lake on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017. Two West High School seniors were killed and two others - another student, and a pregnant woman were seriously injured in a Thursday morning head-on collision north of the school.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune West High student Paloma Gallardo, kneels at the scene of a deadly car accident involving students from the school early Thursday morning. Two West High School seniors were killed and two others - another student and a pregnant woman were seriously injured in the head-on collision north of the school.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune West High students Mariana Lopez, left, and Jasmin Maestas, both 17, light candles as they gather for a candlelight vigil at the scene of a deadly car accident involving students from the school early Thursday morning. Two West High School seniors were killed and two others - another student and a pregnant woman were seriously injured in the head-on collision north of the school.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Students from West High School gather for a candlelight vigil at the scene of a deadly car accident involving students from the school early Thursday morning. Two West High School seniors were killed and two others - another student and a pregnant woman were seriously injured in the head-on collision north of the school.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune West High students Mariana Lopez, center, is embraced by Jasmin Maestas, both 17, as they gather for a candlelight vigil at the scene of a deadly car accident involving students from the school early Thursday morning. Two West High School seniors were killed and two others - another student and a pregnant woman were seriously injured in the head-on collision north of the school.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune West High students Paloma Gallardo, left, and Verenice Orozco, both 17, light candles as they gather for a candlelight vigil at the scene of a deadly car accident involving students from the school early Thursday morning. Two West High School seniors were killed and two others - another student and a pregnant woman were seriously injured in the head-on collision north of the school.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Students from West High School gather for a candlelight vigil at the scene of a deadly car accident involving students from the school early Thursday morning. Two West High School seniors were killed and two others - another student and a pregnant woman were seriously injured in the head-on collision north of the school.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Students from West High School gather for a candlelight vigil at the scene of a deadly car accident involving students from the school early Thursday morning. Two West High School seniors were killed and two others - another student and a pregnant woman were seriously injured in the head-on collision north of the school.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Students from West High School gather for a candlelight vigil at the scene of a deadly car accident involving students from the school early Thursday morning. Two West High School seniors were killed and two others - another student and a pregnant woman were seriously injured in the head-on collision north of the school.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune West High School student MJ Powell, 18, upper left, comforts a friend as he says a few words after organizing a candlelight vigil at the scene of a deadly car accident involving students from the school early Thursday morning. Two West High School seniors were killed and two others - another student and a pregnant woman were seriously injured in the head-on collision north of the school.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Students from West High School gather for a candlelight vigil at the scene of a deadly car accident involving students from the school early Thursday morning. Two West High School seniors were killed and two others - another student and a pregnant woman were seriously injured in the head-on collision north of the school.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune West High School student MJ Powell, 18, says a few words after organizing a candlelight vigil at the scene of a deadly car accident involving students from the school early Thursday morning. Two West High School seniors were killed and two others - another student and a pregnant woman were seriously injured in the head-on collision north of the school.
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Students, family, friends and community members gather for a candlelight vigil Friday February 17, 2017. Police have identified two West High School students who were killed Thursday in a downtown Salt Lake City car crash. The students, 17-year-old Vidal Pacheco and 18-year-old Dylan Hernandez, were passengers in a northbound car driven by a third teen, which witnesses said appeared to be racing another car and traveling in excess of 70 mph on 300 West about 11:30 a.m., said Salt Lake City police Detective Cody Lougy.
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Students, family, friends and community members gather for a candlelight vigil Friday February 17, 2017. Police have identified two West High School students who were killed Thursday in a downtown Salt Lake City car crash. The students, 17-year-old Vidal Pacheco and 18-year-old Dylan Hernandez, were passengers in a northbound car driven by a third teen, which witnesses said appeared to be racing another car and traveling in excess of 70 mph on 300 West about 11:30 a.m., said Salt Lake City police Detective Cody Lougy.
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Students, family, friends and community members gather for a candlelight vigil Friday February 17, 2017. Police have identified two West High School students who were killed Thursday in a downtown Salt Lake City car crash. The students, 17-year-old Vidal Pacheco and 18-year-old Dylan Hernandez, were passengers in a northbound car driven by a third teen, which witnesses said appeared to be racing another car and traveling in excess of 70 mph on 300 West about 11:30 a.m., said Salt Lake City police Detective Cody Lougy.
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Students, family, friends and community members gather for a candlelight vigil Friday February 17, 2017. Police have identified two West High School students who were killed Thursday in a downtown Salt Lake City car crash. The students, 17-year-old Vidal Pacheco and 18-year-old Dylan Hernandez, were passengers in a northbound car driven by a third teen, which witnesses said appeared to be racing another car and traveling in excess of 70 mph on 300 West about 11:30 a.m., said Salt Lake City police Detective Cody Lougy.
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Students, family, friends and community members gather for a candlelight vigil Friday February 17, 2017. Police have identified two West High School students who were killed Thursday in a downtown Salt Lake City car crash. The students, 17-year-old Vidal Pacheco and 18-year-old Dylan Hernandez, were passengers in a northbound car driven by a third teen, which witnesses said appeared to be racing another car and traveling in excess of 70 mph on 300 West about 11:30 a.m., said Salt Lake City police Detective Cody Lougy.
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Students, family, friends and community members gather for a candlelight vigil Friday February 17, 2017. Police have identified two West High School students who were killed Thursday in a downtown Salt Lake City car crash. The students, 17-year-old Vidal Pacheco and 18-year-old Dylan Hernandez, were passengers in a northbound car driven by a third teen, which witnesses said appeared to be racing another car and traveling in excess of 70 mph on 300 West about 11:30 a.m., said Salt Lake City police Detective Cody Lougy.
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Students, family, friends and community members gather for a candlelight vigil Friday February 17, 2017. Police have identified two West High School students who were killed Thursday in a downtown Salt Lake City car crash. The students, 17-year-old Vidal Pacheco and 18-year-old Dylan Hernandez, were passengers in a northbound car driven by a third teen, which witnesses said appeared to be racing another car and traveling in excess of 70 mph on 300 West about 11:30 a.m., said Salt Lake City police Detective Cody Lougy.
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