A 13-year-old Sanger ISD student is being remembered as a kind and hardworking young athlete after he was killed in a school bus crash in Denton County last Thursday.
Julian Amador died when a school bus veered off the roadway at the intersection of Huling Road and Lois Road East. The bus driver, identified as Jesse Padgett, and three other students on board survived the single-vehicle crash.
The Texas Department of Public Safety is leading the investigation into what caused the driver to leave the road. Authorities have not yet released a cause for the crash as the inquiry remains ongoing.
While investigators work to determine what happened, those who knew Julian personally are grappling with a sudden and devastating loss. Coaches at KO Boxing in Denton remembered the teenager as a quiet but determined young fighter who was only beginning to reach his potential.
Coach Omar Solis said Julian gave everything he had during every session at the gym. “He’d be in there throwing some reps and I could just see him try hard every single time he would come here” Solis said.
Fellow coach Christian Raney described Julian as an attentive and focused student of the sport who was visibly growing in confidence with each visit. Raney said Julian genuinely loved boxing and paid close attention to instruction.
The coaches noted that Julian had been coming out of his shell and that his personality was beginning to shine through more and more. Raney recalled that the last time they saw him he was all smiles as he left the gym.
“The last time we saw him he had a big smile on his face and we just said see you later” Raney said.
Beyond his skills in the ring Julian was remembered for his gentle and kind demeanor. His coaches said he carried that same warmth with him whether he was training or simply spending time with those around him.
Raney said the gym feels the weight of what was lost but is grateful for the time they had with the young athlete and his family. “We’re honored to have trained Julian for that short amount of time and really get to know him” he said.
The Sanger community continues to grieve as investigators piece together the circumstances of the deadly crash. Julian Amador was 13 years old.