LUBBOCK, Texas — A family is mourning the loss of 25-year-old Nathaniel Vargas after he was hit by a vehicle and killed on Fourth of July. The crash happened off of US 62 just West of FM 1729.
“Nathaniel was a very loving young man, he was only 25 years old but he had a heart of gold.”
Elvis Vargas, his brother.
According to Vargas’ family, they were lighting fireworks when Vargas realized there was a small fire in a nearby median.
“I see him kicking more dirt on top of it,” Isaiah Vargas said. “I was on the other side of the street and then he turns around and looks at me and we notice a car coming.”
His cousin, Isaiah Vargas said he saw the vehicle coming but did not think it would hit Nathaniel.
“That’s just when I hear a loud thud and then I didn’t see him anymore,” Isaiah Vargas said.
Vargas had just finished extinguishing the small fire, caused by fireworks, in the center median before being struck, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
The driver of the Honda pickup is 52-year-old Amy Cantu, who was not injured during the crash, DPS said.
The Vargas family is now trying to focus on the fond memories with Nathaniel.
“He never looked at life with the glass half empty he always looked at life with the glass half full ,” Elvis Vargas said.
Vargas’ family says when the driver realized she hit Vargas, she tried performing life-saving measures on him.
His family started a GoFundMe page to raise money for funeral costs: https://www.gofundme.com/f/nathaniel-efrain-vargas?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet
