Corpus Christi (KIII news) — A young lady who attended King High School is dead, and another student is fighting for her life after they were struck by a hit-and-run driver late Tuesday afternoon.
The Nueces County Medical Examiner's Office identified the teen who was killed in the crash as 16-year-old Rai-Ane Garza.
A candlelight vigil is being held for Garza at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the scene of the crash.
Police acted on tips from witnesses to track down and arrest the suspect, who was identified as 42-year-old Elton Wayne Holmes. Holmes appeared in court Wednesday morning and posted bond of $100,000. He is set to be released from jail on pretrial supervision.
"They're sending their kids to be safe at school, and something like this happens," a female witness said. She was one of two witnesses who quickly ran to help the two high school students.
"I just kept telling them that they were going to be okay and to stay with me and to talk to me, and kind of getting them to keep talking to me," a witness said.
The two girls and another classmate were walking along a crosswalk on Staples Street and Mustang Trail when police said Holmes ran a red light while speeding on southbound Staples Street, striking the girls.
"The driver sped off through the lights here, hit the girls. We stopped to help out, and from there EMS and everybody showed up," the witness said.
The 16-year-old girl died at the scene, and the 15-year-old was rushed to Christus Spohn Shoreline Hospital in critical but stable condition. The third classmate was not hurt.
Police said it didn't take them long to catch up with Holmes after a witness provided a license plate and suspect description.
Meanwhile, relatives of the two girls were grieving at the scene. A King High School staff member was praying just feet away from where the accident happened.
"What can you do when you see something like this happen?" a witness said.
The Corpus Christi Independent School District released the following statement:
Corpus Christi Independent School District mourns the loss of a Richard King High School student following an off-campus accident Tuesday afternoon. A second King High School student was injured. Out of respect for the families and the ongoing investigation, the district is not releasing names or other identifying information at this time.
CCISD's crisis counseling team has been notified, and will be available to help students and staff.
Holmes faces charges of accident involving death and accident involving injury.
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