By Matthew Osborne
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A rock at Habersham Central High School was dedicated to classmate Carlos Morales, who was killed in a car crash on Wednesday morning. -
The accident happened Wednesday morning as the young men were on their way to Habersham Central High School. -
Habersham Central students paused for a moment of silence Thursday morning to remember Carlos Morales.
A day after the shocking and tragic loss of one of their own, Habersham Central High School was still trying to cope with the hurt.
Principal Jonathan Stribling gave a heartfelt tribute to Carlos Christo Morales, 17, during Thursday’s morning announcements, followed by a moment of silence in his honor. Morales was killed in a two-car crash on Camp Creek Road on his way to school Wednesday.
“Carlos was a great student, a great Raider and a great Habersham County citizen,” Stribling said. “He was a recognizable student who many people knew and loved. He worked hard and did everything we asked of him. He made a positive impact on those around him, and he loved being a Raider.”
Students held their own vigil for Morales before school Thursday, gathering around a rock painted in his honor and adorning it with white roses.
Morales, who was driving to school with two young relatives, had to be extracted from his vehicle after the horrific crash around 7:45 a.m. Wednesday. Morales was airlifted from the scene but succumbed to his injuries about two hours after the crash.
Grief counselors were called in from all over the school district to help fellow students cope with the accident that took their classmate’s life and injured two others. According to joint release by the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office and Habersham County Schools, students were offered support passes to leave school immediately or be excused later in the day. Both entities expressed their “deepest sympathy and prayers” to all involved.
A Mt. Airy woman was charged Wednesday with driving under the influence and first-degree vehicular homicide in Morales’ death.
According to Sgt. Chad Johnson of Georgia State Patrol, Cherrie M. Pulido, 37, of Mt. Airy was traveling south on Camp Creek Road in a 2005 Jeep Cherokee when she allegedly weaved out of her lane and struck a Ford F-150 truck carrying the three students head-on. Pulido’s car came to rest on the west side of the road, while the crumpled truck ended up on Wilson Road.
Pulido, who also was extracted from her vehicle and taken to the hospital with serious injuries, was charged by investigators with driving under the influence, failure to maintain lane and homicide by vehicle in the first degree, according to the Georgia State Patrol.
Pulido was still receiving treatment at Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville at press time Thursday for The Northeast Georgian.
Morales’ two relatives, both 15-year-olds, were treated for minor injuries. Stribling stressed that the school would rally around the two of them as well.
“We’re fortunate that we are very connected here,” Stribling said. “We are a school family here. We face issues together, and we also face tragedy together, and this is a tragedy.”
Morales, who was one course short of graduating, attended Baldwin Elementary, Cornelia Elementary and South Habersham Middle School during his time in the county school system.
A GoFundMe page set up for Morales’ family exceeded its initial goal of $2,000 in less than a day, and a post on Facebook on Thursday morning suggested perhaps trying to raise more.