Schools
Family Trying To Pick Up Pieces After Teen's Death
Relatives of Keith Guerrero are still trying to make sense out of his passing.
He was always smiling. He loved skateboarding and video games. He always had a great attitude.
He could be a handful sometimes, but was a good kid.
Ernesto Guerrero, the uncle of Charter Oak High School student Keith Guerrero, 16, tried to find the words to describe his nephew, who died after suffering a head injury while skateboarding on the Covina, San Dimas border, Monday, Nov. 11, but this was a tragedy no one was prepared for.
"Keith's brother is pretty devastated. My brother is bad, he's trying to stay strong," Ernesto said. His mom is pretty bad. Nobody was prepared to do a funeral."
Keith lived with his father Alex, 15-year-old brother Kevin, who is a Charter Oak High School Student, and younger sister Brielle in Covina.
Keith was skateboarding down winding and hilly Puente Street near Meserica Road on Veterans Day. As Keith approached a portion of the road, the back of his skateboard broke, Ernesto said.
Keith's feet caught the road. He flew through the air and hit the pavement, Ernesto said.
Keith was airlifted from a field at Badillo Elementary School, which is around the corner from where the accident happened.
Keith's dad, Alex, was called by authorities around 4 p.m. that afternoon. Keith was put on life support, but died a little after 2:30 a.m. on Nov. 12, Ernesto said.
"He … always had a great attitude. Everybody loved him. Every kid causes problems here and there. He gets out of control a little bit, but he was a good kid," Ernesto said.
Keith loved to work on electronics. His last project was fixing a DVD player, Ernesto said.
The family is still struggling to set up funeral arrangements. Some family established a donation site through YouCaring.com.
Family have also created a Twitter handle as a way to ask for donations.
A makeshift memorial was set up where Keith fell on Puente Road. A vigil was held Tuesday, Ernesto said.
Some friends and fellow students sat quietly at the memorial on Wednesday afternoon. A skateboard sat amongst the plethora of condolences and flowers fixed against a metal railing, candles burned softly.
Ernesto emphasized the importance of wearing protective gear while skateboarding, which could mean the difference between life and death.
"They [kids] need to start wearing their gear when they're riding. It could have prevented this," Ernesto said. "We're at a loss for words."
