17-Year-Old Student Remembered at Vigil After He Was Killed in Conn. Crash on 'Dangerous' Route

Julio Gomez "brought a smile to everyone's face and he always made everyone laugh," said a classmate

A Connecticut high school community held a vigil Monday night to honor a 17-year-old student who was died in a car crash last week.

Julio Gomez, 17, was killed, and two other victims were injured in Friday's crash on the Danbury Road section of Route 7, according to NBC affiliate WVIT-TV and CBS affiliate WFSB-TV.

The 17-year-old driver of a 2006 Infiniti G35 was driving north in the right lane while the driver of a 2002 Hyundai Tucson attempted to turn left from the southbound left lane, police said, per WFSB-TV.

The driver then tried to pull into a restaurant on Danbury Road before the cars crashed into each other as well as a 2014 Nissan Rogue that had been traveling south on Route 7, police said.

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The Infiniti driver was taken to the Danbury Hospital. She was listed in critical condition, WFSB-TV reported. Gomez, a passenger in the vehicle, was pronounced dead at Danbury Hospital.

The Rogue's 17-year-old driver was listed in stable condition, while the 29-year-old passenger was in critical condition, according to the outlet, which reported they were both taken to a local hospital. The other driver refused medical attention at the scene.

The New Milford Police Department did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.

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New Milford Superintendent Janet Parlato said in a statement that "Julio enjoyed attending New Milford High School athletic contests and socializing with his friends," according to The Connecticut Post.

Parlato went on to remember the teen as "a caring young man who was looking forward to his senior year and going to college."

Tributes continued to pour in as hundreds of students poured onto the front lawn of the high school Monday night for the vigil.

"Julio has always valued being part of a family,” Parlato said, per the outlet. “His energy at New Milford High School events and his contagious smile brought joy to those around him. He will be forever remembered and always missed.”

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Aeryn Crosskey, a senior at New Milford High School, told WVIT-TV that Gomez "brought a smile to everyone's face and he always made everyone laugh."

According to his obituary, the teen was "a remarkable young man who had an immense passion for both football and basketball."

"But beyond his athletic abilities, he had a vibrant personality that lit up every room he entered. His infectious laughter and quick wit brought joy to all those around him," the obituary read. "His love for his mother, brother, and father was immeasurable. He cherished his family deeply and always went above and beyond to show his affection and support."

"Though his time with us was tragically cut short, his memory will forever live on in our hearts," the obituary continued.

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There have been over 172 crashes on the Danbury Road section of Route 7, four of which have been deadly, according to WVIT-TV. New Milford Mayor Pete Bass told the outlet that the roadway can be "very dangerous" due to "excessive speeds on that route" as well as a "lot of businesses" in the area.

New Milford High School Principal Raymond Manka said in a statement that counseling services and grief support will continue through this week, according to WFSB-TV.

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