Oscar Garcia, 23, was killed last weekend. Family members are now planning his funeral.
HOUSTON — A north Houston family is devastated after 23-year-old Oscar Garcia was killed during a parking lot takeover early Sunday morning.
Loved ones say the tragedy was entirely avoidable and they’re now speaking out to warn others about the dangers of illegal car meetups.
Garcia died in an industrial lot off the 610 North Loop, where witnesses say cars were doing donuts and speeding during gathering just after 12 a.m. Sunday.
Tire skid marks are still visible in the lot where his life was cut short.
“He was my adopted son,” Gina Garcia said tearfully. “I would tell him, ‘I’m your mom.’”
“I’ve never met anybody quite like him,” another loved one said.
Garcia says Oscar was standing in the center of what’s known as “the pit” — the middle of a crowd where onlookers often record drivers spinning cars in tight circles. At some point, he tripped and was run over by one of the vehicles.
“That’s when he got stuck under the car,” Garcia said.
Witnesses tried to help, using a jack to lift the car off Oscar, but it was too late.
The driver, identified as 22-year-old Chaizon Myson Young, allegedly fled the scene. He was later arrested and is facing a felony charge of failure to stop and render aid.
“It’s so sad because that’s a tragic death. I just hope it was instant and that he didn’t suffer,” she said.
As loved ones prepare for Oscar’s funeral, they’re urging young people to stay away from street takeovers and high-risk car meetups.
“This is something I always tell everybody to be aware of, the street racing, the car meets — they’re dangerous,” Garcia said. “People hype each other up to go faster, to do more. Now they’ve got this thing where you’re in the middle recording. And that’s how Oscar lost his life,”
As for Oscar’s burial, the family says they are about $6,000 short. They are holding several fundraisers throughout the weekend in hopes of raising the funds to bury Oscar.
On Saturday, the family will be selling plates at 1 p.m. at the Terracita Apartments at 801 S. Allen Genoa Rd in South Houston. Then Sunday at 1 p.m., they will be holding a car meet/carwash for donations at the 7-11 located at 1202 Spencer Highway in South Houston
You can also donate to their GoFundMe here.