(NAMPA)--A community is grieving the loss of a 19-year-old year man who was killed when a train hit his car this week. Peter Justin François, or PJ as he was known, was Kuna High School's 2014 valedictorian.
His mother spoke exclusively with 6 On Your Side’s Lauren Johnson about the tragic loss. It was incredibly difficult for her, but she wants people to know there is so much more to her son than the tragic accident that took his life.
On Monday afternoon, 19-year-old PJ François was doing what he loved--helping those at the Brookdale Senior Living, where he was a certified nursing assistant. He left work and never made it home. His car collided with an oncoming train at Black Cat and Greenhurst road in Nampa. His family is preparing for his memorial on Saturday.
"He was so generous, he worked so hard, and he would just pour out his generosity on his family and those that he loved,” said his mom Shari Francois, who also said that PJ had a work ethic since he was very young, and was also the 2014 Valedictorian at Kuna high school.
"His whole entire senior class gave him a standing ovation because they had such respect,” said Shari.
Since graduating high school, PJ was at Boise State, studying to be a doctor. He loved helping the elderly.
"He wanted to help, to figure out a way to ease their suffering, and especially to help them transition from this life to the next in any way he could, and so he was really considering geriatrics and hospice,” said Shari.
Friends and family tell me that the man they lost was someone who had the heart and mind to change the world.
"He is a treasure that has absolutely been stolen from our family and also the community, that he would have served so well, and I want people to know that my son is the amazing indescribable irreplaceable individual that he was, “said Shari.
The collision that took PJ’s life is still under investigation. Ada County Sheriff's Office believe that he didn't stop at a stop sign, but his mother wonders why there was no railroad crossing for a train going at least 55 miles per hour.
The memorial service for PJ is Saturday at 1 pm at Nampa’s Grace Bible Church.
There is a memorial fund in PJ’s name, the link HERE
His mother wants to give to causes PJ loved, including Doctors without Borders and the Brookdale Senior Living center.
