Hundreds Mourn High School Baseball Player Killed In Campbell Crash After Game
CAMPBELL (CBS SF) -- Hundreds gathered Thursday night to remember a 17-year-old boy who died in a car crash in Campbell earlier this week.
Kirk Vasquez was a student and baseball player at Westmont High School. He had committed to the University of the Pacific in Stockton to play baseball after graduation and he had a bright future ahead of him, friends and loved ones said on social media. His coaches described him as a "unicorn" because he was a rare lefty in baseball and could do it all on the field.
His family spoke to a large crowd that gathered on the high school's baseball field where Vasquez had played since he was a freshman.
"I only had him for 17 years but he will live on forever," Vasquez's mom said.
At about 6:10 p.m. Tuesday, police responded to the area of northbound San Tomas Expressway between Winchester Boulevard and Budd Avenue to a report of a vehicle that crashed into a tree.
Vasquez, who had been driving home from a baseball game, was the only occupant of the car and was extricated by Santa Clara County firefighters. He was rushed to a hospital for surgery but died that night, police Capt. Gary Berg said.
The cause of the crash is still under investigation, but Berg said it may have been a result of rainy conditions and the speed of the vehicle. No one else was injured.
During the memorial, a sea of mourners lit candles, including the teen's friends, teammates and teachers. His family said they had no idea how much of an impact he had on so many lives.
"I look out and I can see and I can feel how much love Kirk had in his life," his sister said.
"This is amazing," said Vasquez's father. "I know Kirk's looking down on us and smiling right now."
Oscar Decolle said he had Vasquez in one of his classes and knew him for several years.
"I believe that he's looking down on us," he said. "He was just a positive figure in our school."
The California Bulldogs, Vasquez's club baseball team, said on Twitter that Vasquez would be missed dearly.
"He was a great kid that touched many hearts," the team wrote.
It also retired his jersey, No. 8, and started a campaign to "playfor8."
Others who coached or played with Vasquez said he was a great competitor and a bright and funny teammate. The Campbell Union High School District said the community is deeply saddened by his death.
"As our community grieves for the loss of a young life, our thoughts remain with the family, friends, students, staff and others impacted by this event," school district officials said in a statement.
KPIX 5 correspondent Maria Medina contributed to this report