St. Ignatius student dies and friend injured in accident

The Saint Ignatius High School of Santa Elena is mourning the death of one of its students and hoping for the recovery of another. On Saturday morning, the two students, who have also established themselves as outstanding athletes, hitched a ride from Cristo Rey heading back to San Ignacio. But they never made it because the vehicle driven by Anthony Vasquez accidentally ran off the road. The family of Michael Masariego is coming to grips with his untimely death while Nigel Carbajal is receiving treatment at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital. News Five’s Jose Sanchez headed west and has the following report.

Jose Sanchez, Reporting

The flag is flown at half mast at Saint Ignatius High School in Santa Elena. Sixteen year old Michael ‘Georgey’ Masariego lost his life and seventeen year old Nigel ‘Butcha’ Carbajal was injured in an accident on the Cristo Rey Road. The Sports Coordinator for the school says they were hitch hiking to a track meet.

Renato Frutos

Renato Frutos, Sports Coordinator, SIHS

“Michael ‘Georgey’ Masariego, he was the one that died in the accident as we all know. He was very active in whatever he did. He tried to participate in everything that we did. Nigel, better known as ‘Butcha.’ These guys were inseparable; they were always together. If Nigel played a sport, Michael was behind. If Michael played a sport, Nigel would be behind him.”

Jose Sanchez

“What was the reason why they were unable to be with the other youths who went to the event?”

Michael Masariego

Renato Frutos

“From what I gathered, they went the day before to Cristo Rey and after that they should have met here at seven-thirty in the morning. So we met and we left for Benque. But when I asked, they were on their way going to the same national track and field meeting in Benque Viejo Del Carmen.”

Inside classroom 1B, candles were burning for the classmate that would no longer return to share his company. And despite the obvious grief of friends, the family of Masariego says they hold no ill will against the driver who was giving them a ride.

Arlene Johnston, Sister of Michael Masariego

Arlene Johnston

“Anybody could ask him to do anything and he will run and go do it for them. He doesn’t hold a grudge. Cheerful personality; loves sports, always ont hat ball game. Always on football, basketball and I think he was heading for a ballgame when this happened.”

Jose Sanchez

“Have you had any contact with the person who gave him a ride?”

Arlene Johnston

“Actually no. I don’t have a name; I don’t have a face or anything like that. I understand the person was being held in custody and it’s a shame because from our family’s perspective, the guy was doing a kindness. The kid asked for a ride and he picked him up and who could have told what would have happened. It is just unfortunate that he is on the bad end of it. We don’t have any problems with that or grudges or anything.”

Jeaneane Neal

Jeaneane Neal, Acting Vice Principal, SIHS

“St. Ignatius High School is in a shock. It is a moment of sadness especially for the homeroom of our deceased student, Michael Mazariego. He is in homeroom 1B and this morning it was not a really good environment for us—teachers as well as the homeroom. Fortunately, we have a few counselors from our sister school helping our school counselor, Misses Guadeloupe Gillett, counseling a lot of our students here—not only from homeroom 1B, but as well from the business homeroom 2A. Because as you might have heard or know that Nigel Carbajal was also injured in the accident and is critical at this time at K.H.M.H.  We must also give our gratitude and thanks to other schools and some of the parents and colleagues from other schools who have called us and have been quite a help in getting assistance from parents and students here to get monies to assist both families.”

Classroom 2A, the homeroom of Nigel Carbajal received counseling. The school counselor informed them that Carbajal would recover.

Voice of: School Councilor

Nigel Carbajal

“It’s very difficult, but I just got off the phone with Nigel’s mother and the prognosis seems to be very good.”

Olga Carbajal

Olga Carbajal, Mother of Accident Vicitm

“He says they hitchhiked a ride and then one vehicle overtake the one they were in and was throwing dust and stuff on top of them. And he says that the driver wanted to overtake the other one on a curve. So he didn’t see the other vehicle coming and that’s when the impact. The other guy he flung out, but he said he grabbed on to the pickup and he grabbed on and grabbed on and that is what saved him. He just has a facial. It is on his left side. He has a big cut on his left eye; he has five stitches. And his cheekbone is the one that is broken; it is sinked it and that’s why his face is swollen. They say they need to do a surgery to bring back the bone.”

A billboard of sad goodbyes for one youth and the promise of recovery for another; life’s harsh lessons for the entire school that loves their two well known athletes. Reporting for News Five, Jose Sanchez.

The man who picked up the two hitchhiking youths on the Cristo Rey Road is fifty one year old Anthony Vasquez of Georgeville. Vasquez informed News Five Jose Sanchez that the accident is unfortunate and he shares in the grief of both families for the death of Masariego and the injuries to Carbajal. His only intention was to help the two boys reach their destination. Vasquez is also receiving medical attention for his injuries.