‘He lit up the room.’ Family and friends remember 19-year-old killed in crash

The skate park at Todd Beamer Park was where Carson Gates spent a lot of time with his friends skating. Sunday night it was the site of a candlelight vigil held for him.

Despite the stay-at-home order, family and friends crowded in front of the gate to the skate park with candles and pictures in hand. The gate was decorated with balloons and signs saying, “We love you Carson.”

The 19-years-old was killed in a crash with an alleged DUI driver Saturday afternoon at Nees and Chestnut avenues.. According to Gabrielle Bawcum, Gates’ cousin, he was the passenger in a car driven by his girlfriend when the driver of a pickup crashed into them.

The driver of the pickup, James Mitchell Anderson, 26, was not hurt in the crash. He was arrested and booked into Fresno County Jail for charges of vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and driving under the influence

“Carson’s smile just lit up the room,” Bawcum described his cousin. “He was so talented and sweet and had so many friends. Everybody always wanted to be around him.”

Bawcum recounted the last time she spoke with her cousin he was asking her for advice on going back to school hopefully at Clovis Community College.

Bawcum said the family is devastated. “My uncle is not eating or drinking. He said he died with his son and all of this could have been prevented.”

The family is planning a bigger memorial once the stay-at-home order ends, Bawcum said.