Family and friends are mourning the loss of an Alonso High School senior who was killed in a motorcycle accident this weekend in Tampa.
Troopers say Kenneth Gordils, 19, was traveling on Hillsborough Avenue when a car pulled out in front of him. Gordils was thrown from his 2004 Yamaha motorcycle and died on scene.
- Kenneth Gordils was killed in a motorcycle crash Saturday
- Gordils joined the arm when he was 17, was set to be deployed
- Friends, family describe him as a jokester who worked hard
Gordils joined the Army when he was 17, and was set to be deployed sometime this year, according to his family.
“He was so excited," his sister Joanne Gordils said. "He could not actually wait to get deployed."
His family says Gordils wanted to be a career military man, but he also had plans to go to Florida International University to get his bachelor’s degree.
Gordils’ friends and family say he was a jokester who always had a smile on his face, but work is something he took seriously. He held two jobs. He worked at a local gym and a local jewelry store, while juggling JROTC at Alonso High School.
On Monday, his fellow students put a candle and flowers on Gordils’ desk and wore red and black to pay their respects.
A large crowd also gathered Sunday night for a vigil, where friends and family spoke about the loss. Flowers and candles still cover the corner.
Just behind the crash site, a deputy posted a large electronic sign that read, “Look for motorcycles.” Gordils' friends say it’s a simple act that could have saved their loved one's life.
Gordils was set to sell his bike to get ready for his deployment.
Florida Highway Patrol says charged against the driver are pending.