A family trip that was supposed to be a time for joy and relaxation ended in tragedy on Monday, July 7, 2025, when eight people lost their lives in a car accident on a highway in northern Mexico.
Among the victims were Orlando Flores, a 19-year-old recent graduate of Wichita North High School, and his girlfriend, Nuvia Castillo, a student at Wichita State University.
The tragedy of Orlando Flores and his family
Both young men were part of a family with deep roots in the Hispanic community in Kansas, and their passing has generated a wave of grief and outrage among those who knew them.
The circumstances of the accident are still under investigation by Mexican authorities, but it is known to have occurred while the group was returning from a family vacation.
Orlando Flores was not only an outstanding student, but also a youth leader committed to his community.
After graduating from North High School in 2024, he decided to devote some of his free time to volunteering as a baseball coach with League 42, a nonprofit organization founded in Wichita more than a decade ago with the goal of providing sports opportunities to children in urban settings at low cost.
Flores had been a player in League 42 as a child and, when he left competition as an athlete, he did not hesitate to return as a coach, joining his brother and cousin in managing children’s teams.
“Orlando coached alongside his brother and cousin; they were all very dedicated and had a great way with the kids,” Bob Lutz, the league’s founder, wrote in a heartfelt message posted on Facebook. “I spoke with Orlando on Sunday, prior to the accident, and he told me he was excited to return to coaching in 2026. This is a devastating loss.”
A profound impact on the school community
The grief over the deaths of Orlando and Nuvia has been especially strong in the Wichita education community.
Randy Griffitts, former baseball coach at North High, said the news shocked students, faculty and staff: “The death of these two young men has affected everyone in that building. It’s been a very sad day.
Griffitts remembered Orlando as a cheerful young man, close to his family and with a natural calling to teach. “The first thing he did when he stopped playing was to start coaching kids t-ball,” he recounted. “He always had a smile on his face, whether he was on the field or in the classroom.”
Family support and community tribute
The families of Orlando and Nuvia have launched a campaign on the GoFundMe platform to raise funds to cover the costs of repatriating their bodies and funerals.
The Wichita community has begun to respond with solidarity, sharing the campaign link and making donations.
For its part, League 42 has announced that it will pay tribute to Orlando this Thursday with a special ceremony remembering his legacy as a player, coach and human being. “We’re going to do something that honors him the way he deserves,” said Bob Lutz. “He deserves the recognition, our respect and our admiration.”
GoFundMe Campaign
A friend of the Castillo family opened a GoFundMeaccount forthe following: “Hi, my name is Dulce and I am a close friend of the Castillo family. I am setting up this GoFundMe to help them with funeral expenses after a truly devastating tragedy.”
