On Aug. 22, 18-year-old Alexander Manu and 19-year-old  Isaiah Hastings, Birmingham alumni, were pronounced dead at the scene of a car crash.

At about 7:30 p.m., a black 2005 Nissan 300Z was traveling southbound on San Fernando Road and swerved into the northbound lane, hitting a silver 2013 Honda Odyssey minivan.

The driver of the Nissan was 18-year-old Eldridge Salguero who was hospitalized and as of Aug. 23 was in critical condition as reported on the  KTLA.com story “2 College of the Canyons Football Players Killed in Sylmar Crash; 3 Injured”.

The Odyssey was driven by 44-year-old Suh Min Kyung who was accompanied by her 11-year-old daughter. Both suffered from only minor injuries.

Manu, Hastings, and Salguero were attending College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita and playing on their football team. They were all 2014 graduates of Birmingham Charter Community High School and former football Patriots.

Hastings had been awarded the the title All City Player of the Year for Birmingham Community Charter High School.

Speed may have been a factor of the crash. It was said the Manu and Hastings were not wearing seat belts at the time of the crash.  Additionally, the three men were in a car that only sat two as reported on the hometownstation.com story “Officials Report Speed a Factor in Collision That Killed Two COC Students.

On Aug. 24 a candle lighting was held at BCCHS track and field to remember the two who died and to pray for Salguero who was fighting for his life.