Southwestern Randolph freshman dies from auto wreck

ASHEBORO – A Southwestern Randolph High School student died as a result of an automobile accident during the weekend, according to information from the Randolph County School System.

Freshman Adrian Jimenez Alvarado, 15, died Sunday.

A school district spokesperson said a crisis team was at the school Monday to assist as word spread about the fatality. Support personnel will be available for the remainder of the week as needed.

The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Friday at Ridge Funeral Home in Asheboro. A funeral is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home’s chapel. Burial will follow at New Hope Memorial Gardens in Asheboro.

Jimenez Alvarado would have turned 16 years old next month. An obituary from the funeral home lists his parents as Fermin Jimenez and Consuelo Alvarado Perez. He’s also survived by two sisters, Rocio Jimenez Alvarado and Adriana Jimenez Alvarado, and one brother, Andreas Jimenez Alvarado.

Jimenez Alvarado’s death adds to the tragic losses of life across the past six months involving teenage students from RCSS schools.

In May, Southwestern Randolph student Pedro Ortiz-Perez, who had been a member of the boys’ soccer team, died from a gunshot wound from an Asheboro shooting. Ortiz-Perez was 16.

In August, Eastern Randolph students Mario Lara, 15, and Tyler Franklin, 17, died as a result of a single-vehicle accident in rural Ramseur. The occurred less than two weeks prior to the start of classes for the new school year. Two teenage girls were also injured in that wreck.