Gilroy

Gilroy Teen Killed in Car Crash Remembered on Her Birthday

It was supposed to be a day of celebration--the 16th birthday of a Gilroy teen. But instead, people are mourning Natalia Salcido, whose life was cut short when she died in a car crash last Saturday.

Natalia was a cheerleader at Christopher High School. Her family had been planning a surprise Sweet 16 birthday party for her. Instead, they celebrated her life and the difference she made to others Sunday.

More than 500 people came together at Christopher High School this afternoon to celebrate the bittersweet 16th Birthday of Salcido. Friends said they remembered her radiant smile and loving person behind it.

"She's always smiling. She was always happy. She would tell jokes," friend Carter Sepulveda said. "She would--just--she's amazing."

They said Natalia had a generous spirit and packed a lot of giving into her short life.

"When you see the number of people who actually attended and showed up, that's when you really get a feeling for how much she impacted this community," Girl Scout leader Terri Miller said.

From helping the homeless, to collecting toys for kids in need, to just making others feel special, people said the 15-year-old leaves behind a legacy of giving.

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