COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- Ali Aashiq was part of a close group of about five or six friends. And now these friends are trying to comprehend the fact that they will never see Aashiq again.
Aashiq was killed as he crossed Circle Drive Monday morning and was struck by a car.
When Mark Johnson heard the tragic news he said, "I kind of had a mental breakdown. I was drinking soda and threw it against the wall."
Many of them first heard the news through phone calls to each other and a series of text messages, then confirmed what had happened on the Internet.
"It just didn't even seem real. It didn't seem like it could be him," said friend Anna Martinez.
Friends said Aashiq was always the life of the group.
"He was a goofball, he was funny. He got us in trouble, out of trouble. He was always there for us," explained Johnson.
"He'd make a joke out of anything and make you feel good if you were feeling down," added another friend, James Holt.
Aashiq's personality is what forced his friends to push back tears and try to smile Tuesday saying it was the best way to remember him.
Palmer High School is in the middle of CSAP testing this week, but some students were pulled out of the tests Tuesday to meet with grief counselors.
"I think Thursday will be the hardest cause that's a normal day. Everyone will be finding out about it and probably asking questions so I don't really know how to handle that yet," commented Martinez.
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Update 7 p.m. Monday, March 15
A sight no one wants to see: a dead body just hit by a car early Monday morning.
Police tell FOX21 News the victim was hit so hard that his jacket, shirt and tennis shoes were scattered throughout the street.
"Disheartening, very disheartening. My feelings go out to the victim's family and friends as well as who may have been responsible for all of this. Nobody wants their day or their life to be impacted like this,” said Debra Taft, a witness.
The victim was 15-year-old Ali Aashiq, a Palmer High School student. T
he driver of the car that hit Aashiq is 19-year-old Erik Ryan from Colorado Springs.
Police say drugs and alcohol do not appear to be a factor but excess speed may have been.
“It's certainly a concern when we have a length of skid marks like we have here. Our major accident unit is on scene and starting that investigation, but the skid marks are obviously a concern,” said Sgt. Dave Gilman, Colorado Springs Police Department.
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Update 1:30 p.m. Monday, March 15
Colorado Springs police say Circle Drive has been reopened after Monday morning's fatal pedestrian-auto crash.
Watch FOX21 News at 6:30 and FOX21 News at 9 for full details.
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Original story, Monday, March 15
Colorado Springs police are investigating a fatal auto-pedestrian accident that has shut down a stretch of Circle Drive this morning.
Police say it happened just before 7 a.m. at south Circle Drive and Winnepeg Drive, between Airport Boulevard and Fountain Street.
Witnesses say a male victim was struck by car.
Police confirm that the accident was fatal.
Investigators say a passerby performed CPR until paramedics arrived.
Circle Drive between Fountain Street and Airport Boulevard is closed until further notice.
In the meantime, an alternate route is recommended.
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