A quiet stretch of road in Spartanburg County has become the focus of grief and reflection after a 19-year-old high school student was found fatally injured following a hit-and-run earlier this week.
Late Tuesday evening, emergency responders were called to the area near Howard Street and Samuel Road after a report of a person in the roadway. Authorities later confirmed that the victim was Jose Julian Morales-Diaz, a student at Dorman High School in Roebuck, South Carolina.
South Carolina Highway Patrol investigators say Morales-Diaz was walking on Howard Street when he was struck by a vehicle that was not at the scene. The driver has not been identified yet and investigation is ongoing.
Morales-Diaz, born in Chiapas, Mexico, was described by family and school officials as a happy-go-lucky and determined young man. Friends remember him as a man who had an easy smile and made others feel welcome. At school, teachers say he was thoughtful and engaged – a student with clear goals for the future.
He loved football, especially cheering on his favorite team, Club América. He also had a growing interest in cars and dreamed of becoming a mechanic one day. Above all, those closest to him say that his faith and dedication to his family were the key to who he was.
“Jose’s kindness and compassion were reflected in the meaningful relationships he built with his classmates and teachers,” Spartanburg County School District 6 shared in a statement. “He was a young man full of promise and potential.”
In the days since his death, classmates have gathered to console each other, leaving notes and sharing memories on social media. The school district has made counseling and mental health support available to students and staff to cope with the sudden loss.
Family members say they hold tightly to the memories of her laughter and big dreams. A memorial service is scheduled for Friday, February 27, where loved ones will come together to celebrate his life.
Local authorities are urging anyone with information about the vehicle in question to come forward. Community leaders hope the answers will bring some solace to the grieving family.
As Spartanburg mourns, many are reflecting on the fragility of life and the importance of taking care of each other on and off the streets. Friends say Morales-Diaz’s legacy will live on because of the kindness he showed and the dreams he dreamed.