Apopka, Florida — Enrique Rodriguez Sabas and two friends perish in rollover crash
In Apopka, Florida, Enrique Rodriguez Sabas, 17, was among three teenagers whose lives were abruptly ended in the early hours of Sunday, November 9, 2025. The crash occurred at around 1:30 a.m. on East Welch Road near Wekiwa Drive, when a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado carrying six adolescent passengers veered off the road, struck a tree and flipped violently.
Troopers from the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) reported that the pickup truck was traveling eastbound as the driver navigated a curve when the vehicle lost control, went off the roadway, and crashed into a tree. The impact caused the vehicle to overturn, trapping those inside.
Authorities later identified the victims of the crash as Enrique Rodriguez Sabas, 17; Julio Valdez Lopez, also 17; and Leyner Velazquez, 13, all from the Apopka area. Two of the teens were pronounced at the scene, while the third succumbed later at a hospital.
Preliminary reports indicate that the teens were in the pickup truck when it rounded the curve, lost traction or control, left the pavement, and collided with the tree. Four of the six passengers were not wearing seat belts at the time, including both the 13‑year‑old and one of the 17‑year‑olds.
The FHP continues to investigate multiple potential contributing factors: speed, late‑night driving, curve conditions, vehicle dynamics, and seat‑belt usage. No further details have been released about whether impairment, distraction, or mechanical failure played a role.
The crash has left the Apopka community in deep mourning. At the scene of the wreck the following day, dozens of crosses, candles, and flowers marked the spot where the lives of the three young students were lost. The community held vigils and organized support for the surviving families.
Within the local schools — including Apopka High School and Kelly Park School K‑8 — grief counselors were made available to students and staff as classmates processed the sudden loss of friends and peers. One school board official described the incident as “devastating” for the district and urged families to embrace their children, express love, and remain vigilant amid the pain.
As investigators piece together the exact sequence of events, the memory of Enrique Rodriguez Sabas, Julio Valdez Lopez, and Leyner Velazquez lives on in the hearts of the community: three young individuals described by their peers as kind, ambitious, and full of promise. Their names now stand as reminders of how fragile life can be, especially in the fleeting hours of the night and along the curves we may assume safe.
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