A Cooper teenager died as a result of a head-on collision that occurred Sunday morning on State Highway 19 in Hopkins County.
Enrique Antonio Mendoza, 19, of Cooper, was pronounced dead at the scene. Mendoza is the son of Mario and Dianna and was attending Texas A&M University-Commerce, following his graduation from Cooper High School last year. Mendoza was in route to his job in Sulphur Springs at the time.
According to law enforcement officer reports, Mendoza was driving an antique Cadillac car. The collision occurred when a Chevrolet pickup headed north on State Highway 19 ran off the road, then into a ditch, overcorrected, and struck the southbound Cadillac.
The Chevrolet pickup had four occupants. Three of the four were transported to Paris and Sulphur Springs hospitals for injuries, while the fourth refused treatment.
Funeral services for Mendoza are scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday June 10, 2016 at St. William Catholic Church in Greenville. Rosary and visitation will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday June 9, 2016 at Delta Funeral Home.
Mendoza makes the second member of the CHS Class of 2015 to die tragically in an automobile accident. Logan Lair was recently pronounced dead on the scene of a one-vehicle wreck in Jackson County.
According reports Lair, also 19, and 21-year-old passenger Jaggar Tomlin were ejected from their vehicle after an overcorrection sent the pickup into an embankment before overturning multiple times.
Logan is the son of newly elected Delta County Precinct 1 Commissioner Eric Lair and wife Misty.
In lieu of flowers, the families of Lair and Mendoza request memorials sent to the Maroon & Gray Scholarship fund, c/o First National Bank, Attn: Linda Barnes, 11 Westside Square, Cooper, Texas 75432.