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Teen Who Died in La Mirada Accident Remembered at Vigil


By Brian Hews

The family of 17-year-old Richard Dell Castillo held a vigil Tuesday night near the scene of the accident that killed the teen Monday night.

Over 60 family and friends gathered to remember the young man who recently graduated from Buena Park High School.

The fatal collision happened at 12:45 a.m. Deputies said it occurred near Beach Boulevard and Hawks Pointe Drive while the coroner has the crash at Beach Boulevard, north of Rosecrans Avenue.

The sheriff’s Norwalk station initially said the car Del Castillo was riding became disabled on southbound Beach Boulevard.

However, Sheriff’s Detective Carl Anna said Tuesday the sedan was originally on the southbound lanes, made a U-turn then became disabled on the No. 2 northbound lane.

Del Castillo and the three other occupants of the car got out to check.

A car northbound on Beach Boulevard hit Del Castillo. The driver, a 21-year-old Whittier man, was heading home from work, according to Anna.

The driver remained at the scene.

Anna said there is no indication there was a street race prior to the crash. He said there were no drugs or alcohol involved in the collision.

Richard’s sister, Rebecca, 14, who organized the vigil, told the Whittier Daily News that she wanted the gathering to remember her big brother, whom she called her best friend.

“He was just the best person,” she said.

Their mother, Andrea Atchison, thanked everyone for honoring her son.

“This is a celebration of his life,” she said. “He was a very good boy.”

Two GoFundMe.com campaigns have been set up by family and friends of the Del Castillo family.

Those wishing to donate money to the family can visit https://www.gofundme.com/2ghuer3p.

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