GRESHAM, Ore —
Police identified an 11-year-old boy who was hit and killed by a driver while walking to Dexter McCarty Middle School in Gresham on Monday morning.
Luis Medina died at the scene, according to the police.
A GoFundMe account has been created to help with family needs and funeral services.
"Our little boy Luis was on his morning walk to school when he was struck by someone under the influence and died at the scene. He was a quiet sweet boy, an angel to our family. He enjoyed playing with his sister and loved anything that had to do with playing in the water," a family member wrote.
A public memorial will be held for Luis on Tuesday, Jan.14 at 11 a.m. at St. Anne Catholic Church.
Gresham police said the driver, 26-year-old Garrett Bergquist, was impaired and ran a red light before hitting the boy at the intersection of Southeast 5th Street and Hogan Road in Gresham.
Bergquist stayed at the scene and cooperated with the investigation, police said.
Gresham police officer Malaka Kerbs told KGW that Bergquist was not impaired by alcohol. He took an unspecified medication.
He was arrested in Clackamas County in April of 2015 for DUII with a blood-alcohol level of .14. The charges were later dismissed after he completed a diversion program.
Police said their investigation showed the boy had the right of way.
Dexter McCarty Middle School Principal John George said that additional counselors will be at the school on Monday afternoon and Tuesday to help students and staff.
The following letter was sent to families of students at Dexter McCarty Middle School:
Dear Dexter McCarty Middle School Families,
It is with profound sadness that I write this communication to let you know that one of our students was involved in a tragic traffic accident and unexpectedly passed away this morning. The Gresham Police have notified the parents of the student. Our condolences and thoughts go out to the family and friends of our student. Additional counselors will be on hand both this afternoon and tomorrow to support students and staff.
As soon as we received the news we implemented our school's Emergency Response Plan so that we could do our best to provide an appropriate response for our staff and students. We know that students and staff react in different ways to tragedies of this nature, so we are going to be flexible in our response.
A student death is a difficult and challenging situation that can generate a high level of anxiety and distress in some students. Children may have limited or no experience in coping with a loss like this and might be confused as to how to handle grief. If you feel that your child is having difficulty, we encourage you to discuss their thoughts and feelings to help them work through their grief or concerns. Please also consider monitoring and discussing your child's communications (social media, phone, email, text messaging) to further assess their potential needs.
Please observe your child closely over the next several days and weeks to watch for signs of distress, which may indicate a need for additional support and guidance. Please feel free to call if you have any concerns or questions regarding your child, or the steps being taken by the school to address this loss and tragedy. Counselors and support staff may be reached at 503-665-0148. Additional resources can be found at this link.
Sincerely,
John George
Principal