Three friends stepped into a crosswalk late at night, unaware that within seconds, their lives would be shattered forever. According to police, a white 2019 Porsche Boxster driven by 19-year-old Louis John Artal sped through the intersection of East Second Street and Euclid Avenue around 11 p.m., striking the group with devastating force.
The impact was so severe that two of the pedestrians—21-year-old **Sophia Akimi Troetel** and 22-year-old **Josiah Patrick Santos**—were pronounced dead at the scene. Their friend, **20-year-old Katya Castillo-Mendoza**, was rushed to the hospital in critical condition but later died after her family made the heartbreaking decision to remove her from life support.Authorities say Artal turned himself in shortly after the
crash, cooperating with investigators and now facing multiple felony charges, including **second-degree murder** and **aggravated vehicular manslaughter**. Preliminary findings indicate that excessive speed played a central role, with witnesses describing the Porsche as “flying” down the street moments before impact. Police are still awaiting toxicology reports to determine whether impairment was a factor.
The scene that night was one of chaos and heartbreak. First responders worked under flashing lights as stunned bystanders looked on, unable to comprehend the tragedy that had unfolded in front of them. In the days since, the intersection has become a makeshift memorial, covered in flowers, candles, and handwritten notes from grieving friends and classmates.
The victims, described as inseparable and full of life, had been enjoying a simple evening together before the crash ended everything in an instant. As the community mourns, anger and sorrow mix with calls for accountability and safer streets. The tragedy has left families devastated and a city searching for answers to how one moment of recklessness could take away three young lives filled with so much promise.
