GoFundMe started by family of Giovanni Lara

The family of Giovanni A. Lara, 16, of Morris, has started a GoFundMe page to raise money after his passing as a passenger in a car crash Sunday evening.

The GoFundMe can be found at https://www.gofundme.com/f/in-loving-memory-of-giovanni-lara.

The Grundy County Coroner’s Office announced Monday that Lara, a Morris Community High School Junior, was pronounced dead in a crash at 9:15 p.m. Sunday.

Lara was the passenger in a vehicle that crashed about 8 p.m. in the 4900 block of Cemetery Road east of Morris.

Lara’s family said he had a wicked sense of humor and brightened up any room he walked into. He loved spending time with his family and friends, playing games and watching movies and learning about cars with his father, Efrain.

Lara was the son of Efrain and Juana Lara, and the sibling of Divenetie Lara, Antonia Martinez and Efrain Lara. He is the grandson of Guadalupe Lara and Elia Esquivel.

He enjoyed being outdoors, four-wheeling through the countryside and fishing, and enjoying paintball.

A preliminary investigation showed that the car was traveling west when the driver lost control of the vehicle for unknown reasons. It traveled into the ditch and struck a tree.

Lara was pronounced dead at the scene, and the vehicle’s driver was taken to Morris Hospital.

Morris Community High School District 101 Superintendent Craig Ortiz released a statement Monday.

“All of us at Morris Community High School are devastated by the loss of one of our students,” Ortiz said in the statement. “Our counselors and social workers have been meeting with students and staff all morning, and will continue to do so, to provide support. Coal City High School also shared one of their guidance counselors with [the Grundy Area Vocational Center] today, as the student attended class at GAVC.

“I have had several area schools reach out to me to offer additional counseling services, and we are so grateful for that support. All of the student’s family and friends are in our thoughts and prayers at this painful time.”

The crash remains under investigation by the Grundy County Coroner’s Office and the Grundy County Sheriff’s Department.

A visitation for Gio will be held from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday at the First Christian Church, 455 Southmor Road, Morris. A celebration of life will follow at 7:30 p.m.