A plush toy from the Disney animated classic “Stitch” sat next to photos of 17-year-old Yusbeli Diaz Galvez, also known as “Ava.”
Nearby, childhood photographs of 16-year-old Isabella “Bella” Vigil at Chuck E. Cheese rested among flowers, candles and handwritten tributes, at a growing roadside memorial in Santa Maria.
The memorial, near the intersection of South Broadway and South Miller Street, drew a steady stream of visitors all day Tuesday. The site became a place for friends, family members and community residents to pay their respects and mourn the five young people killed in the crash on Sunday.
The victims, according to the Santa Maria Police Department, have been identified as:
- Nicolas Munoz-Gautreaux, 17
- Jennifer Gutierrez, 19
- Guendi Beatrice Gamez Escalante, 16
- Yusbeli Diaz Galvez, 17
- Isabella Star Vigil, 16
The only survivor, Aurelio Calixtro Matias, 24, remains hospitalized in critical condition, according to the police department.
Bouquets, stuffed animals, liquor bottles and photographs lined the corner, transforming the crash site into a place of remembrance and reflection for a community grappling with the loss.
Tuesday evening a crowd gathered near the memorial for a candlelight vigil. Law enforcement officers eventually ordered attendees to disperse after some people set off fireworks.
Kenny Klein, district spokesman for the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District, said one student attended Pioneer Valley High School, another attended Santa Maria High School and a third was enrolled in a Delta High School program after previously attending Pioneer Valley High School.
At the start of Tuesday’s Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors meeting, Chair Bob Nelson led a moment of silence. His Fourth District includes a significant portion of the city of Santa Maria.
“It’s a sobering reminder of the fragility of life,” Nelson said. “They are youth in our community. And I just want to take a moment of silence in their memory. And our thoughts and prayers are with their families and friends.”
Standing near the memorial Tuesday afternoon, Reyna Vaca remembered seeing one of the victims, Munoz-Gautreaux, only hours before the crash.
“We were at a graduation party, and he came up to me. He was just really, like, really happy. We were standing in a group, talking and laughing,” Vaca said. “It’s just so unreal, especially being with someone like hours before they pass away.”
Vaca described Munoz-Gautreaux as someone who “loved to have fun.”
“I’m obviously close with all his friends, so just seeing them go through it, like people who know him more than I do. Yeah, it sucks to see them,” she said.
For many residents, the tragedy has extended far beyond those who personally knew the victims.
Jesus Hernandez said he stopped at the memorial after hearing about the crash and remembering the emergency response that unfolded that night. Hernandez said he was getting off work around the time of the crash and recalled seeing police vehicles and hearing sirens near the scene.
Others said the tragedy highlights the importance of community support.
“I feel like with the GoFundMes that I’ve seen, everybody’s coming together,” said Sienna Rodriguez. “I know it’s much more than money, but I mean support.”
Rodriguez said the crash has prompted many residents to reflect on the importance of supporting young people in the community.
“I think, just as a whole, we need to pay closer attention to our community. I have a little brother who’s only 13, you know,” she said.
Speaking about the families affected by the crash, Rodriguez added, “Mamas’ hearts hurt.”
Community members have organized online fundraisers to help the victims’ families with funeral expenses and other costs. Verified GoFundMe campaigns have been established for Yusbeli Diaz Galvez, Isabella Star Vigil, Nicolas Munoz-Gautreaux, Guendi Beatrice Gamez Escalante and Jennifer Gutierrez.
While investigators continue to examine the circumstances and events surrounding the crash this past weekend, those gathered at the memorial Tuesday said that their focus remains on remembering the lives that were lost and the families left behind.
