High schoolers honor teammate killed in Thursday hit-and-run

Teammates of a Mesquite teenager, killed in a hit-and-run crash on Thursday, honored him during their cross country meet.

17-year-old Joseph Huerta was killed while walking across Highway 80 in Sunnyvale. He was trying to get help after being involved in a car crash just moments before.

On Saturday, Huerta’s teammates at North Mesquite High School paid tribute to him at their first cross country meet without him. The teammates sported blue ribbons and his friends wore t-shirts to remember Huerta. The team also left a spot open, running with only six members instead of the usual seven. Huerta’s running shoes were placed at the starting line to pay tribute.

“To see those shoes at the start line, I broke down because I wanted to see those shoes moving, you know? He's such a talented runner,” said Huerta’s former teammate Diego Munoz.

Authorities are still searching for the driver responsible for Huerta’s death. Police believe the driver was in a small, dark colored, newer model SUV. It will likely have damage to the front end.