Students return to school after teens killed in crash on 880
UNION CITY, Calif. - Tuesday was the first day back to school for students at James Logan High School after three classmates were involved in a deadly crash over the weekend. Two were killed, but one survived.
A memorial has been set up at the school. Friends have left candles, flowers and photos of Izaiah Mease, 17, and Joe Iaromo, 16.
Izaiah and Joe died in a car crash early Sunday in Hayward. Izaiah was a senior at James Logan High School. Joe was a former student there.
Izaiah was driving a Honda south on Interstate 880 near West A Street when he suddenly veered to the left, causing a Dodge ram pick up truck to hit the Honda.
Both vehicles hit the center median. Izaiah died at the scene. Joe died later at the hospital. The other student is recovering from injuries and is no longer in critical condition.
The CHP is investigating the cause of the crash. On Labor Day, loved ones gathered at a campus memorial for the victims.
Izaiah's family came together at his Union City home to celebrate his life. Nicknamed "Zay," he was a senior and a player on the football team.
"I feel like he was God's instrument to show us what unconditional love is, "said Junior Marcelo, Izaiah's cousin.
"We're trying to promote the hashtag #LongLiveZay and #LiveLikeZay," said another cousin Nikko Marcelo "he was just happy kid a hard-working kid, great in school," he said.
Joe was known by everyone simply as Junior. He was also on the football team.
Friends say he always put others first.
"He meant a lot to me. He was my safety net," said an ex-girlfriend, Alexandria De Leon.
Just two weeks ago, De Leon told him she was worried about him.
"The last word I told him was, 'Junior, I know you can do this. You can get on the right track. You can make your parents proud. I know you can, you have it in you, but please, just be safe and do what you got to do, because I don't want to see you on social media one day or get a phone call saying you're not here.' "
James Logan High Principal Abhi Brar said, "It's a tough day for us, and I anticipate it will be a tough time in grieving the loss of promising young lives."
School counselors and psychologists will be on hand when students return to campus on Tuesday.