Community mourning death of Oñate player
Mendez, 18, who loved football, killed in car crash
LAS CRUCES — Friends and family of Luis Alberto Mendez are in mourning after the Oñate High School studentathlete was killed Saturday in a car crash.
By Sunday, a makeshift memorial for the congenial football player had been placed at the spot along Bataan Memorial West where Mendez was killed. A mile east, dozens of relatives and teammates gathered to wash cars in an Auto Zone parking lot to raise money for his funeral services.
At the car wash, those who knew him best remembered Luis, 18, for his kindness and willingness to help. He was also a noted comedian who just wanted to make others smile. He was passionate about his truck, the outdoors and playing football.
Maria Santillan, Luis’ mother, said her son lived with his grandparents, Pedro and Inez Quinones. His grandmother is a stroke survivor and his grandfather suf
fers from dementia, so they require full-time help. Luis was the primary caretaker.
After Inez heard about Luis’ passing, her blood pressure spiked and she had to be admitted to the hospital where she remained Sunday, family members said.
“That was her baby,” Santillan said of her mother’s relationship with her son.
Luis was naturally inclined to help, Santillan said, “always really responsible.” He would clean neighbors’ yards at no charge, especially the elderly, and one day wanted to own a landscaping business, she said.
Helping out a family member may have cost Luis his life.
Santillan said Luis was planning to “escort” his stepfather’s cousin — Adolfo Gurrola-Romero — back to Vado and the two made plans to meet up on Bataan Memorial West near Sonoma Ranch Boulevard about 4 a.m. Saturday.
That morning, Luis was driving a grey Pontiac Grand Am and parked on the shoulder of Bataan Memorial about a block east of the Sonoma Ranch intersection and was waiting for Gurrola-Romero, who was driving a black Chevrolet Camaro, Santillan said. As Gurrola-Romero approached, he lost control of the Camaro and slammed into the Grand Am, she said. Luis died instantly.
Gurrola-Romero was booked into Doña Ana County Detention Center on Saturday on a fourth-degree felony count of vehicular homicide. He is also charged with aggravated DWI, reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident and not immediately notifying authorities of an accident.
Las Cruces police announced Saturday that one person was killed in a crash along Bataan Memorial West, but have not yet named a victim. Authorities are expected to release details Monday.
Remembering Luis
David Tellez, an assistant coach for the Oñate football team, remembered Luis as a “good kid” who was a friend to everyone and would “give you the shirt off his back.”
“He always had a smile, he was easy-going, hardworking, never complained,” Tellez said, adding that Luis will be hard to replace on and off the field.
Luis, a junior, played defensive back on the junior varsity and varsity squads in 2019. He was expected to compete as a starter in the defensive backfield in 2020.
“He was aggressive out there,” Tellez recalls, “always matched up against top-tier receivers. He got beat a few times, but it didn’t get him down. He had a short memory.”
Tellez said Luis was a leader by example, but when he did speak it was always to motivate.
“He didn’t have a bad thing to say about anyone. I don’t think he had an enemy,” Tellez said.
Carlos Quinones, a cousin, remembered Luis as someone who would encourage his friends to go on hikes and explore nature.
“Besides football and working hard, he had that adventurous side,” Quinones said. “Always exploring.” Luis would round up friends to go on hikes in the Organ Mountains and was hoping to create a blog based on his adventures and sunset photography, his cousin said.
Luis also had a comedic side. “If he could make you laugh, that would make his day,” Quinones recalled.
Family and friends are planning fundraisers, including a Go Fund Me organized by an aunt.
The Oñate football team is organizing a spaghetti dinner fundraiser on Thursday, to start at 6:30 p.m. in the Oñate High School Commons. Tellez said team leaders would meet Monday to discuss how to pay tribute to Luis in the coming year. Funeral services have not yet been finalized, Luis’ mom said.
Luis is survived by his mother Maria Santillan and stepfather Ivan Santillan; older siblings Alex Sanchez, Diego Sanchez and Tiana Chacon; younger siblings Miguel Garay, Ebony Santillan and Ivan Anthony Santillan; his grandparents Pedro and Inez Quinones; and myriad aunts, uncles and cousins.