Juan Rodelas James Logan junior Juan "Johnny" Rodelas died after a horrific car wreck on Central Ave. Saturday.
He would have been 17 years old in June.
A grieving student is comforted while
Juan Rodelas' fellow Puente Program
students gather in the background.
Courier Photo
His friends gathered in Colt Court to honor his memory Monday morning before school and during first period, and Principal Judy Billingsley called for the Logan community to keep Rodelas in their thoughts.
In an email to the school, Billingsley wrote, "Our 11th grade student Johnny Juan Rodelas Jr., was killed in a solo car accident on Saturday night. He had been driving on Central Avenue in Union City when he had the accident.
"According to this morning's Argus," Billingsley wrote, "it was a "loss of control" accident in which the vehicle crashed into a pole. A passenger in the car, Alejandro Gomez,sustained non-life threatening injuries and was treated at Eden and released early Sunday morning. Johnny was involved in the Puente program. His parents are active members in the Union City community."
Students, many wearing the white t-shirts
Rodelas' favored, gathered in Colt Court
Monday to pay their respects.
Courier Photo
The crash was reported on Central Avenue near Pacific Street in the driveway of the Blommer Chocolate Factory at about 9:40 p.m, Saturday, according to news reports. Rodelas was driving a 1996 Corvette. According to news reports, a preliminary police investigation indicates that Rodelas was speeding when he lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a concrete-filled metal pole.
The fire department responded to extricate Rodelas, which took 37 minutes according to some reports, and both he and Gomez were transported to a hospital.
Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to call the Police Department's traffic unit at 510-471-1365.
During first period, several hundred students gathered in The Spot with counselors, school psychologists, administrators and teachers. Using a microphone, several talked to the crowd about the good times with Rodelas.
Other students wrote messages on sheets of butcher paper, which will be fashioned into a memorial wall posted in Colt Court.
"Johnny, I will love you forever and you will never leave my heart," wrote one student named Michelle.
"We miss you and you know that I love you as a brother," wrote Carl.
"I can't believe something like this can happen," wrote Lety, "I will pray for you and your family."
Rodelas previously attended Searles Elementary and Cesar Chavez Middle School. His brother, Ricardo attends middle school at Barnard/CesarChavez. His sister, Analisa, a 2007 graduate of Logan is a student at UC Santa Barbara. Rodelas father, Juan Rodelas, is the former soccer coach for many Logan students. Johnny's mother, Monica Rodelas, works at the Bank of America on Decoto and Alvarado-Niles.
Billingsley urged teachers to announce this information to first period students. She offered counseling to distraught students and staff. Former Puente counselor and current House Principal John Rodriguez and an 11th grade counselor planned to attend Roselas classes to offer counseling services to Rodelas' classmates.
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