SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif.- A school community is mourning the death of one of their own students, 17-year-old Alex Maier. Maier's life came to a tragic end in a car crash following Monday night's soccer game.
It was an emotional day Thursday for Maier's soccer team, as it was their first practice playing without him.
"He's one piece of a big puzzle and that piece is never going to get back," said Coach Frank Marotti Jr., San Luis Obispo High School Boy's Varsity Soccer.
A life gone too soon. Those who knew Alex Maier say he spent most of his time on the soccer field, playing the game he loved.
"Really sociable guy, everyone loved to be around him. He touched a lot of lives, not including just the soccer players, even though that's pretty much all he did," said Marotti Jr.
After leaving a soccer game Monday evening, it all changed. Maier's truck collided with another car on southbound Highway 101 near the Santa Rosa off-ramp, then landed on the guardrail. Maier passed away Wednesday evening from his injuries.
"His goal was to go to college, graduate college and have a wonderful life here somewhere on the Central Coast," said Leslie O' Connor, Principal of San Luis Obispo High School.
Although, Maier may never get to play soccer again, his teammates are now playing in his memory.
"Everybody lost a good friend and his parents lost a son that's what we really have to remember," said Marotti Jr.
California Highway Patrol say drugs, alcohol, or texting did not play a factor in the crash.
A memorial for Maier is scheduled for Saturday, February 2nd at 2:00pm at Holt Field Stadium at San Luis Obispo High School.
