Santa Clara Community Mourns Teen Killed in Weekend Crash

Isaiah Mendoza, a 16-year-old junior and standout athlete at Wilcox High School, was killed Saturday night in a crash on Lawrence Expressway near Benton Street in Santa Clara. Police say Mendoza was driving a Honda Accord that made an unsafe lane change and struck a Toyota Camry before the Honda hit a traffic signal pole; firefighters attempted life-saving measures but he died at the scene and two teen passengers suffered minor injuries. Investigators reported the Honda appeared to be traveling over the posted speed limit and the collision remains under investigation; the Toyota driver stayed at the scene and no arrests or citations have been announced. Hundreds of students, family and friends held candlelight vigils and tributes at Wilcox High and the crash site, leaving flowers and messages and remembering Mendoza for his athleticism and caring nature. Wilcox High and the Santa Clara Unified School District deployed grief counselors and crisis teams to support students and staff, and a GoFundMe page was created to help the family with funeral expenses.