On Friday, 255 students eagerly accepted their diplomas from Durango High School. For some, this milestone provided reason for celebration. But for Samuel Romero, who overcame physical and emotional struggles after a traumatic car accident that killed three of his peers, the diploma meant much more.
The accident happened around midnight Saturday, March 17, 2007, along Colorado Highway 140 south of Hesperus.
Larry Romero, 18, of Durango, Carly Martin, 16, and her 13-year-old stepbrother, Ray Millich Jr., were killed in the accident, said Christine Aas-Romero, aunt of Samuel Romero and mother of Larry Romero.
Octabino Romero, father of Samuel, was driving an Isuzu Trooper the night of the accident. He was going to help a friend who got stuck on the road. When Octabino found his friend, he pulled to the side of the road and got out of the car to help, Samuel said.
Shortly after, La Plata County Sheriff’s Deputy Jake Yeager stopped to assist, Aas-Romero said.
While Octabino’s car was pulled to the side of the road, the driver of a pickup drifted off the side of the road and sideswiped the Isuzu Trooper. All of the passengers in the car were ejected.
Samuel, who was 11 at the time of the accident, was seated behind the driver’s seat. He suffered many serious injuries but survived the accident.
The other three teenagers in the car died immediately upon impact.
After analyzing Samuel’s internal injuries, medical professionals didn’t think he was going to survive, Aas-Romero said.
“We are so lucky to have Samuel with us,” she said.
Samuel broke multiple bones and has a brain injury from which he still is recovering. After the accident, he had to relearn how to read, write and do math.
“It feels really good to be able to graduate. I struggled for a long period of time in school,” Samuel said. “It is a big accomplishment to be able to get this far.”
After graduation, he plans to attend Universal Technical Institute in Wyoming with plans to become a mechanic.
tferraro@durangoherald.com
