Friends and family of a skateboarder killed in a hit-and-run crash faced an emotional day Saturday as they said their goodbyes.
A memorial service at St. Patrick’s Church honored 20-year-old Vincent Edward Zellefrow, Jr., who died on Feb. 12 while riding his skateboard along Carlsbad Boulevard.
Mourners wore traditional black, accented with articles of blue clothing -- Zellefrow's favorite color.
As he attended the service, family member Rick Harvey remembered Zellefrow as a young man with a strong passion for music.
“When it comes to music with his interests, he was going to go to Berkeley and take some classes and continue with his career in music,” said Harvey. “Unfortunately, it’s come to a very tragic end.”
As the father of a child himself, Harvey said he was very angry when he heard about the crash.
He has since been calling for stiffer consequences for hit-and-run drivers.
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“I think the laws need to be changed because this is happening too much. Too many people are dying too young. The penalties are not strict enough,” said Harvey.
After Zellefrow's death, Carlsbad Police arrested a 17-year-old woman on suspicion of felony DUI, hit and run and vehicular manslaughter.
The suspect’s name has not been released, but officials said she was booked into the Kearny Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility.
She will be prosecuted as a juvenile, according to Harvey.
“She should be prosecuted as an adult,” Harvey said. “She made the decision to get behind a car when she had been drinking, hit somebody and drove away and continued to go to another party.”
Friends and family told NBC 7 that they are raising funds online to erect a permanent memorial in Zellefrow's honor at the site of the accident.
The money will also be awarded as scholarships to Carlsbad High School students pursuing careers in music.
