Teen remembered as ‘noble of heart’
STAMFORD — Friends and family are mourning the loss of a 17-year-old described by his mother as “noble of heart” who died after a motorcycle crash.
Daniel Esteban Pico moved to Stamford with his mother and younger brother in early 2020, just before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Before that, he lived with his family in Colombia.
Pico, who arrived in Connecticut with a limited understanding of English, attended Westhill High School but was thrust into virtual instruction soon after arriving.
His mother, Alix Cardenas, said that even with such challenges, Pico picked up the language quickly.
“He was my translator,” she said in Spanish. “My support.”
Cardenas said Pico was a musician, singing and playing guitar and piano. He played in a band back home in Colombia.
“Daniel is a very special boy,” she said. “Very considerate, noble of heart. In Colombia, he was one of the most popular kids.”
The move to Stamford, where he had to adjust to a different culture and grapple with COVID-19-related restrictions, was difficult for him and the entire family, Cardenas said.
Before the collision that ended Pico’s life, the family had taken a vacation to Florida.
Because of that trip, Pico hadn’t been to the gym in a few days, and on Nov. 22, decided to go, driving his Honda
Shadow motorcycle, she said. Cardenas said she was worried about him driving at night but knew her son would be safe.
“He was always very careful,” she said, adding he wore a helmet that night, just as he did whenever he drove his motorcycle.
But on his way back home, Pico’s bike collided with a pickup truck attempting to turn while driving the opposite direction, knocking him off his motorcycle.
The driver of the truck, 21-year-old Edin Martinez-Peralta of Stamford, remained on the scene and spoke with investigators, Sgt. Jeffrey Booth said.
Pico suffered a brain hemorrhage and was listed in critical condition when he arrived at Stamford Hospital.
Over four days, his condition did not improve.
Pico was pronounced dead Nov. 26. Martinez-Peralta was given infraction tickets for driving without a license, registration or insurance, but has not faced any further charges. The investigation into the collision is still ongoing, according to Booth. Officers will be discussing with the state’s attorney office of Stamford Superior Court to determine if additional charges are warranted, officials said.
Cardenas, talking about the recent trip to Florida with her sons, broke down in tears.
“I didn’t know that would be the last vacation I would have with my son,” she said.
She said owning a motorcycle was one of Pico’s dreams; they are a popular mode of transportation in Colombia. He worked this summer as a painter to cover some of the costs of purchasing it.
As she spoke about the collision that took her son’s life, she pleaded with drivers to practice caution.
“By going too fast, you can end a life,” she said. “Please be aware.”
Pico’s cousin Jennyfer Martinez, who organized the GoFundMe, wrote that it is with “extreme sadness” that the family is now saying goodbye to their loved one. She wrote that Pico “will be deeply missed by many.
“He touched the lives of so many and it's our turn to give back to his family in their time of need,” Martinez wrote.
In its first three days, the page had raised close to $12,000 of a $10,000 goal.
“People here have been so good,” Cardenas said, thanking those who have supported her and her family since Pico’s death.