GASTON COUNTY, N.C. — A memorial and celebration of life was held Thursday night for a little boy who was loved by so many.
Liam Lagunas was tragically killed after police said a driver who was racing lost control and crashed into the car the boy was in.
Liam would have turned 7 years old next week.
The June 26 wreck happened on Highway 74 near Sparrow Springs Road in Gaston County.
Liam Lagunas’ family invited us to his memorial service today. The 6-year-old was killed by a driver investigators say was drag racing. His parents are displaying his favorite things: his Taekwondo uniform, soccer ball, roller skates, baby foot prints, and his art work @wsoctv pic.twitter.com/pH5AU5bDeX
— Genevieve Curtis (@GenevieveWSOC9) July 8, 2021
>> In the video at the top of this webpage, Channel 9′s Genevieve Curtis was with family members, friends and the community who gathered to honor the boy’s life.
Liam was just in the car with his dad, Santiago, heading home when another car crossed the median and hit them head-on. Troopers said the racing cars were going almost 100 mph.
At Thursday’s memorial, among the medals, treasured pictures, baby footprints and memories were Liam’s uniforms, his soccer ball and his roller skates -- that he will never get the chance to outgrow.
Lucas Miller said he and his friend Liam would ride bikes and had so much fun playing outside together. Lucas’ father, Dustin, was among the parents holding their children extra close during the memorial.
“It’s something I couldn’t even bear to imagine,” he told Channel 9. “I try to put myself in that situation and there’s no words to explain how anybody could react or feel when it happens.”
Family and friends are calling on the community not to drive recklessly.
“Racing like crazy, acting crazy, stupid, ending an innocent life -- we need to do something about it,” Dustin Miller said.
The Highway Patrol said it is still investigating the crash but so far, no one has been charged. Liam’s mom, Brandi, told Channel 9 she plans to advocate for tougher penalties for racing.
“My baby didn’t deserve it and my family didn’t deserve it,” she said.
(WATCH BELOW: Parents of boy, 6, killed when accused street racer hits car head-on talks plan to keep his memory alive)
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