Deputy Meredith Portillo and Koree Alcoser, both 20, died after the car they were in was hit by a wrong way driver.
SAN ANTONIO — Monday marks one year since the death of Bexar County Deputy Meredith Portillo and Koree Alcoser, who were hit and killed by a wrong way driver on I-37, both were just 20 years old.
Friends and family of Deputy Portillo and Koree came together at a vigil on Monday to remember them.
Their mothers shared the pain that remains one year later.
Deputy Portillo’s mother says her daughter was kind, outgoing, helpful and dedicated to her job. She says the past year has been difficult.
“She lived with us as well, so it was not knowing, I’m not going to see her anymore, so that’s like the hardest,” said Cindy Portillo, Meredith’s mother.
Deputy Portillo had been out for the night with friends and was on her way home around 2 a.m. when the crash happened.
One of her passengers was Koree. His mother Peggy says he was kind and outgoing with a gold heart, with lots of friends who adored him and miss him every day.
“I miss his laughter, his voice, I just miss everything about him, he’s the missing puzzle of my small family,” said Peggy Gaeta.
Gaeta says there are places she and Koree spent time together, that she can no longer bare to go.
“I hate to get reminded every day, even though I go through the pain of how it is to lose your child, it’s a pain that no mother should ever go through,” said Gaeta.
A third passenger in Deputy Portillo’s car, Hailey Adams, survived the crash. She was also at the vigil, but the pain was too much to share her grief.
Deputies say the man who caused the crash was Jorge Pargas Jr., who also died in the crash.
Deputy Portillo’s mother says Pargas was intoxicated, so she has joined Mothers Against Drunk Driving. She hopes to raise awareness, honor her daughter, and hopes this doesn’t happen to another family.
“I wouldn’t wish it on anyone, every day is difficult, for every one of us,” said Cindy Portillo.
