Rose Parade float turns 9-year-old’s death into a call for organ donations

Sebastian Amezcua was 9 when he died following a car crash in December 2007.

But through organ donation, he saved three lives.

To help honor his sacrifice, a floral portrait created in his honor and completed by his family during an unveiling Thursday at Univision will be part of the 2017 Tournament of Roses Parade on Jan. 2.

The floragraph of Sebastian will be placed on the Donate Life parade float, themed “Teammates in Life,” along with floragraphs of 59 other organ and tissue donors.

The float, which depicts a Polynesian catamaran interwoven with Polynesian designs and patterns, will be propelled by 24 organ and tissue recipients rowing in unison along the parade route.

The goal of the float is to encourage people to sign up to be organ donors, sponsors said.

In the aftermath of Sebastian’s death, his family members have served as ambassadors for organ donor registration, sharing the boy’s story with audiences throughout Fresno County. On Dec. 2, 2007, the Amezcua family’s Honda SUV was broadsided by a Chevy Camaro driven by a 15-year-old who later took a plea deal for vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence. Sebastian’s parents and then-5-year-old brother survived the crash.

According to Donor Network West, nearly 1,000 people are waiting for organ transplants in Fresno County.

This story was originally published December 1, 2016 at 3:38 PM with the headline "Rose Parade float turns 9-year-old’s death into a call for organ donations."