ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla.,None — Police said they are trying to determine what caused a crash in Altamonte Springs Thursday morning that killed a 16-year-old boy headed to school.
The student who was on a motorcycle, collided with a truck that had other students inside, at the intersection of Bunnell Road and Pearl Lake Causeway.
Alejandro Betancourt had gotten his license nine days ago. Family members said he got the motorcycle on Wednesday.
Friends started a memorial after school at the scene of the crash.
"At 16 you shouldn't be thinking, 'Oh, my life is going to be gone today,'" said Lake Brantley High School student Brandi Garcia.
Betancourt was a Lake Brantley High School junior. He collided with another Lake Brantley student who was driving a pickup truck. The driver of the truck, along with his passenger, was not hurt.
Friends consoled each other at the memorial, and grief counselors spent the day on campus.
"So lovable…and now he's gone," said student Nicole Brandi.
Altamonte Springs police said it doesn't appear the students were speeding, because the vehicles had no major damage and there were no skid marks on the road.
"Maybe ran a red light or didn't yield the right of way?" WFTV reporter Daralene Jones asked Robert Pelton of the police department.
"Absolutely. All of those things are speculation, but plausible," said Pelton.
Altamonte police used one of their own cars to perform what's called a "drag test." Police said it will help determine how fast the vehicles were traveling, and at one point, when brakes were used, if at all.
Police won't release any information about the driver of the pickup.
Betancourt had a motorcycle endorsement, which means he took special classes that are required by the state to learn how to ride it, investigators said.
"He would want us to remember him how we always knew him, always smiling," said Garcia.
Police said the pickup truck driver may face charges if it's determined he was at fault.
WFTV
