AMARILLO, TEXAS -- The Amarillo community mourns the loss of an 18-year old hero after his tragic and untimely death.
Andrew Santos was a good kid, a little quiet, but nevertheless, a teenager any parent would be proud of.
Early Sunday morning, Santos died after his Nissan Sentra was rammed multiple times by the driver of a Ford Explorer.
An incident, APD said was intentional.
"I was like, 'oh my god,' he died? But now it's like he's gone. A person I just met not too long ago," said Alex Ballin, Santos' friend.
In 2006, Santos along with Ballin became local heroes after rescuing an elderly woman from her house after it exploded.
"I looked around and saw the house demolished. I ran straight toward it. I looked around and asked if anyone was there and the lady answered," said Santos in a 2006 interview with Pronews 7.
But Santos never thought of himself as a hero.
Just a senior in high school (at the time) who would've done what anybody else would do in that situation.
Though Santos and Ballin really didn't know each other that well before that day in October 2006, they shared a bond not too many people would understand.
They became friends and stayed friends through high school, but went their separate ways after graduation.
Ballin said he was devastated when he heard the news.
"I was shocked. I can't believe someone I barely met came into my life dramatically and just disappeared. It's amazing how things can happen like that." Said Ballin.
It was a life changing event for both of the boys, but one that never affected the kind of person Santos truly was.
"Even after that event he was still not outspoken. He wasn't Mr. Big Shot.
He was humble, very.. he did what he had to do," said Ballin.
A true hero gone way too soon.
APD said no arrests have been made yet, but they do have two persons of interest in the case.
A 17-year old passenger was in Santos' car at the time and was taken to a local hospital where she remains in guarded condition.
If you have any information about this you are asked to call Crime Stoppers at 374-4400.
