CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — It was a somber first day back for students and staffers at the Dr. M.L. Garza-Gonzalez Charter School over on Greenwood Drive.
One of that school's beloved teachers, 41-year-old Richard Luna was killed over the weekend when his vehicle was struck by an accused DWI driver.
The crash happened Saturday night near Weber Road and Holly Road in front of the HEB grocery store. Luna was thrown from his vehicle.
The impact of the tragedy has been far reaching for those who knew the victim.
Flags are being flown at half-staff at the charter school where Luna taught in honor of his memory.
"Mr. Luna was an amazing person. Even my being able to come in this morning, knowing what we were going to face was an extremely tough challenge," said school superintendent Dee Dee Bernal.
Bernal said she had known Mr. Luna since he was a child.
For the last year, he taught math to third, fourth, and fifth grade students.
"Of course, we've had to be strong for the students. Everybody loved Mr. Luna very much," said fellow teacher Juan Salazar.
Salazar showed us inside Luna's classroom where next to an empty chair was a drawing on the wall. It was from a student to Mr. Luna who wrote, 'the best teacher'.
Salazar who teaches in the classroom next door said Luna was not only a colleague but also a friend.
He says he will miss hearing, "everything. I will miss hearing him speak to the kids, the kids answering questions. They were so eager and willing to learn. It was so vibrant in his room."
Grief counselors as well as support dogs were brought in to help students and staff to find a little comfort.
Next to a picture of Mr. Luna and flowers was a memorial wall in one of the hallways that allowed students to post messages like 'I will miss you', and 'will miss your smile every day'.
It is a small glimpse of the big impact the teacher made in the short year he was there at the school.
English teacher Stephanie Torres had also known Mr. Luna for several years. She said it wasn't until she stepped foot into the cafeteria where Luna would have welcomed back even more students, that it hit her he was gone.
His class schedule sat ready to go on a desk. Lolli pops in a bag were ready to hand out to kids.
"He talked about how excited he was for phases 3 and about all the students he hadn't met," said Torres.
Meanwhile, Salazar had some strong words about the action of the other driver.
"That selfishness of that driver, took so much away from us, impacted so many people," said Salazar. "Don't be selfish, don't get behind that wheel after you've had a few to drink."
A video celebrating the life of the beloved teacher was shared online.
