John F. Kennedy High School freshman one of two children killed in New Orleans East crash

A freshman at John F. Kennedy High School enjoying a holiday was one of two children killed in a car crash in New Orleans East on Monday afternoon, according to his mother.

Gabriel Porter, 15, who had recently moved with his family from Lake Charles to New Orleans, was riding around with an adult friend while on fall break from JFK when the white Lexus they were in got a flat tire and became disabled on Interstate 510 south near Interstate 10 east.

The driver of a Jeep Wrangler then struck the Lexus from behind, badly injuring Gabriel and his friend’s 2-year-old daughter, who was also in their vehicle.

Paramedics brought Gabriel and the toddler to University Medical Center, where they were both pronounced dead. The girl’s father was later listed in critical condition while the Wrangler’s driver declined a ride to the hospital, police said.

Police said they didn’t immediately cite the Wrangler’s driver with any violations, but the crash remains under investigation.

Authorities didn't release the names of anyone involved in the wreck, and attempts to locate the family of Porter's friend and his daughter were unsuccessful. 

Gabriel’s mother, Laquinta Porter, shared his name with The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate on Tuesday. Porter said she couldn’t comprehend losing her son so unexpectedly — and that she, Gabriel’s sisters and his brother had been planning to throw him a party for his 16th birthday in November.

In a heartbreaking post on social media, Porter posted a video showing a tabletop covered in photos of her son when he was younger.

“I love you, son,” a weeping Porter says on the video. “I miss you. I’m sorry this happened to you.”

During a brief interview, Porter described her son — whom everyone knew as Gabe — as “a very bright and smart child.”

A statement from JFK School Leader Joseph Jones Jr. echoed Porter, saying, “Gabriel … had an infectious personality that brightened our hallways.”

“Although Gabriel was just beginning his high school career as a freshman, … he was an amazing student making great advances in his studies,” Jones' statement said. “We are heartbroken and his family has our deepest sympathy, prayers and condolences.”

Jones added that his school will have counselors on hand to support to students and staff as they come to grips with losing Gabriel.

“We will cope with this grief together,” the statement continued. “In the coming days and weeks, we will come together as a community to celebrate Gabriel’s life and support his family.”

An outpouring of social media tributes said Gabriel was exceedingly kind to everyone he met, and that he made fast friends both in Lake Charles and in his adopted home of New Orleans.

“To know Gabe was to love him,” read one tribute. “He was the most respectful, smart, strong, … level-headed teenager I’ve ever met.”

Note: Gabriel’s family asked that members of the public consider contributing to an online GoFundMe campaign aimed at covering the teen’s funeral costs.