Three former players for the Cerritos College men’s soccer team were involved in a car accident on Saturday afternoon, nearly 30 miles west of Green River, Utah. Two of the victims, Eddie Valencia and Carlos Ornelas, were killed in the crash.
Photo Courtesy of Todd Johnson, Utah Highway Patrol.
Three former players for the Cerritos College men’s soccer team were involved in a car accident on Saturday afternoon, nearly 30 miles west of Green River, Utah.
Two of the victims, Carlos “Ponch” Ornelas, 21, and Eddie Valencia, 20, were killed in the crash.
The players were headed to Kansas Wesleyan University on a soccer scholarship when the car they were in flipped over three times before coming to a halt.
According to Connect2utah.com, the men were driving in a Chevy Silverado pick-up truck going eastbound on I-70 when the vehicle went off the road on the left side and rolled into the median.
The two men of the trio were ejected from the vehicle.
A secretary for the St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Junction, Colo. confirmed that the men had all been taken there after the accident.
Ornelas and Valencia were air lifted to the hospital but Reyes was driven.
UCLA student Giovanni Mayoral said the third player was Briant Reyes. Reyes is believed to have suffered minor injuries to his arms and legs, but he has been released.
Ornelas died on Saturday, shortly after arriving to the hospital, while Valencia died on Sunday after being taken off of life support.
Head coach Benny Artiaga was away with the team and could not immediately be reached for comment.
Photo courtesy of Cerritos College athletics
Carlos Ornelas, 21.
The cause of the crash and who was driving is still under investigation.
Juan Huerta, who also played for the Falcons, also signed to play soccer at KWU but he chose to fly to the school instead of driving, according to Cerritos College Sports Information Director John Van Gaston.
KWU President Fletcher Lamkin expressed his thoughts in a statement released by the school on Monday.
“We are devastated by the deaths of Carlos and Eddie. Our heartfelt love and condolences go out to the grieving families and friends,” he said.
Photo courtesy of Cerritos College athletics
Eddie Valencia, 20.
“To see their lives snuffed out so prematurely is tragic. They lost their opportunity to fulfill their potential. It also causes us to reflect on the potential of our own lives and rededicate ourselves leading good, successful, and significant lives, where we indeed serve others and make this better world.”
Head coach Mike Dibbini, who recruited all three players said, “Carlos and Eddie were great kids, great players and great students. Their loss is not only a loss for the soccer program, but the entire university. Our condolences go out to their families in this difficult time.”
Valencia was once a referee at the Liberty Soccer League in Whittier.
President Rafael Mendoza explained how his program gave a tribute to Valencia and Ornelas.
“Our prayers and thoughts are with the families of Eddie and Carlos. We are sad to hear of this tragic accident,” he continued, “as news came of this tragedy we held a moment of silence before our last game this Sunday to honor both of these extraordinary people.”
Sandra Gutierrez, who lives on the same block as Ornelas, recalled memories of seeing him grow up.
“I remember seeing him walk to school every morning. He was a quiet kid with a cute smile and I never same him in any kind of negative activity but soccer was in his blood,” she said.
Gutierrez, a month of four males aged 25, 23, 19 and 13, says she couldn’t imagine the pain the pain that Ornelas’ family is going through.
“I’ve seen his mom, aunts, cousins, and siblings and you can feel the sadness in their eyes. I am a mother of four boys (25, 23, 19, and 13) and I couldn’t not imagine the pain of not having one of them. Mothers aren’t supposed to bury their children.”
Cal Poly Pomona men’s soccer forward Luis Gonzalez said when he heard of the accident, he dropped to his knees and began crying.
“It has affected me really bad as I am going into my senior year at Cal Poly Pomona. I think about them every time I step on the field and it has been hard for me to concentrate on my game,” he said.
“But, I can’t let it get me down to much. I have to play harder and win for my fallen soldiers because that’s what they would have wanted me to do. They looked up to me a lot as a role model so this season is dedicated to them.”
Gonzalez met Valencia his sophomore year while they were both playing in a semi-professional league based in the city of La Puente. He met Ornelas while they were both playing for the Cypress Futbol Club, when Gonzalez was 15 years old.
A Facebook page has been set up as a memorial to Ornelas and Valencia. The page had nearly 3900 “likes” on Friday night and it was started by, Shannon Santos-Perez Brooks, friend of the two victims.
The men’s soccer team has also announced that it will also honor the players at the team’s first game on Aug. 30 against Los Angeles Mission College with a tribute that is being called “Celebration of Life”.
The team has also set a goal to sell 1000 royal blue balloons for five dollars each to raise money for the families, and at the conclusion of the game, everyone who purchased a balloon will be allowed to enter the field so the balloons can all be released simultaneously.
The younger brothers of Valencia and Ornelas participate in pregame activities with the team and sit on the sideline during the game.
Both families will also receive a framed jersey.
This is one of several events being organized in memory of the two men and to help the families offset the financial burden.
On Monday, a vigil was organized by Mark Flinn and it was held at the Downey Brewing Co.
The Yogurtini in Salina, Ks, will donate 10 percent of all sales on Thursday, Friday and Saturday to the families of Ornelas and Valencia.
Donations are also being accepted by both families.
To donated to the Valencia family, it can be done through the Bank of America account 03159-77597 and the Ornelas family is receiving them through the Chase Bank account number, 3036591315.
Piolin Por La Mañana, a radio-show on the Spanish station 101.9, is also sponsoring a car wash that is to be held on Monday in Whittier at 8536 Norwalk Blvd at 3 p.m.
John William Henry, principal owner of the Boston Red Sox and the English professional football club Liverpool F.C. informed Artiaga that he would be donating a jersey from each team he owns to the players’ families.
The Red Sox jersey will be autographed by four-time All-Star relief pitcher Jonathan Papelbon.
It has not been announced who will sign the Liverpool jersey.
The memorabilia will be auctioned at silent event at the team’s first game.
Several other local businesses have agreed to help the families overcome the financial burdens.
DP’s Pizza Pub in La Habra as well as David Gomez of Century 21 All-Stars in Downey, have both agreed to donate $100 for each goal the Falcons score during the game.
Family and friends of the team will be going to DP’s Pizza Pub after the game and restaurant has agreed to donate a percentage of the sales to the families.
Valencia’s wake is on Saturday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Guerra Gutierrez Mortuaries.
Ornelas’ viewing will be held at Saint Raymond’s Church on Tuesday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
There will be a church service the following day at 10 a.m. then he will be interred at All Souls Mortuary in Long Beach.
