An 18-year-old Florida teen has died after he was involved in a car crash hours after he graduated from high school
Hendry Aceituno Gudiño, of Riviera Beach, was reportedly returning from a celebratory dinner when the single-car collision occurred
“It’s a tragic death, and I think nobody deserves to die like that,” said his mom, Anielka Gudiño
A Florida high school student has died after he was in a car crash hours after his graduation.
Hendry Aceituno Gudiño, 18, of Riviera Beach, was with his girlfriend and her father when the fatal crash occurred in Martin County on Saturday, May 17, according to NBC affiliate WPTV and FOX affiliate WFLX.
Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) said the car slammed into a guardrail near the Martin Highway exit after the 52-year-old driver lost control of the vehicle, CBS affiliate WPEC reported.
Both the driver and Hendry were pronounced dead at the scene, per WPTV. The 16-year-old girl who was also inside the vehicle was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.
Hendry had reportedly graduated from Boca Raton Community High School just hours before the crash occurred. He was returning home from a celebratory dinner when the crash took place.
The teen and his mom, Anielka Gudiño, moved to Florida from Venezuela in 2023, according to WPTV. Anielka told the station that her son “had a whole life ahead of him.”
“It’s a tragic death, and I think nobody deserves to die like that,” Anielka said. “Very painful. Everything is painful. A teen full of life, 18 years old.”
She later added, “I’m going to miss him so much. It was him and I. This is all going to be so difficult for me.”
As of Tuesday, May 20, more than $5,400 has been raised through a GoFundMe campaign started to support Hendry’s family following the crash.
In an email to families on Monday, May 19, high school principal Dr. Suzanne King expressed “heartfelt condolences” to Hendry’s family and said the school would “offer support” to them, according to WPEC.
“Grief support, including school counselors and school psychologists, will be available on campus today for our students and staff to ensure they have the emotional support they may need to help them through this difficult time,” King wrote. “If you believe your child would benefit from speaking with someone, please encourage them to do so.”
She later added, “At Boca Raton High School, we are a community that supports one another. Together, we will navigate this difficult time.”
Neither FHP nor Boca Raton Community High School immediately responded to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
