After a car crash claimed the life of Texas Tech student Jerry Davis, friends remembered him as kindhearted, extroverted, and relatable.
Davis was on a spring break mission trip to California with a college ministry group. Davis was driving a car that rolled over when he lost control on March 20, according to New Mexico State Police.
Davis died at the scene. The four other passengers in the car were injured. As of Tuesday, two of the passengers were still hospitalized. Genesis Guevara and Ken Choi were listed in critical condition, and Guevara’s sister Alondra was treated and released. Hunter Hall was treated at Plains Regional Medical Center in Clovis, NM.
Hank Howard, who was on the California trip and served as Davis’ bible study leader, described Davis as fun to be around.
“Jerry was very extroverted,” Howard said. “He was fantastic at relating with people he didn’t even know.”
Howard, who met Davis through The Navigators college ministry program at Texas Tech, said they were on the trip to “know Christ and make him known.”
He said the goal was to get the group of about 80 people to a location out of their comfort zone and see new parts of the world, as well as provide a religious experience to those they met along the way.
Howard was in a car a few hours behind Davis’s group, heading back to Lubbock, when he heard the news. He said he received messages asking if he was okay, and then learned that the car was driving had been in an accident.
“The first thing I thought was to get back to Lubbock to be there for those who needed support. My first thoughts were for those who survived,” Howard said.
He said he was shocked to learn of Davis’ death, and felt a numbness knowing he would not see his friend again.
“He had a caring heart,” Howard said. “He was an inspiration to people.”
Gary Cantwell, Chief Communications Officer for The Navigators, issued a statement about the crash.
“The Texas Tech Navs community joins the family of Jerry Davis in grieving the loss of a loving father, husband, and follower of Christ. We stand together in prayer with the families of the other students recovering from this tragic accident. We honor these students who devoted their spring break to the service of their fellow man as they selflessly cared for the homeless, orphans, and others on their mission trip to urban San Diego.”
