2 Inglewood students confirmed dead in bus crash, family members say

Family members have received confirmation that two seniors from Animo Inglewood Charter High School were among those killed in Thursday’s fiery bus crash in Northern California, according to a sister of one of the students.

Ismael Jimenez and Denise Gomez, both 18, had been unaccounted for since the collision between a FedEx truck and a tour bus filled with high school students bound for Humboldt State University. The crash killed 10, including five students, but authorities said identifying some of the deceased would take some time because their bodies were badly burned.

Jimenez’s sister, Evelin Jimenez, said her parents told her Friday night that authorities had confirmed her brother’s identity with a test using their DNA. She also said she was told by a cousin of Gomez’s that her death had been confirmed to her family.

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Jimenez was an honor student who was passionate about art, constantly drawing and painting, his sister said. Even though he was younger, she could often depend on him like he was an older brother, she said through tears Saturday.

“His love for art was amazing, that’s all he did,” Evelin Jimenez said. She recounted how he always made drawings for everyone in his life -- horses for his mother, who treasures them, and as gifts for his girlfriend of nearly three years. She said he was “beyond excited” about moving on to college and pursuing a career involving art.

Jimenez and Gomez had been close friends since the seventh grade, part of a tightknit circle of friends who first became close hanging out by a big oak tree in middle school, said Frankie Martin, also a senior at Animo and a member of the group. The friends had an impromptu gathering Friday night to pray for the two at Martin’s Inglewood home. More than 60 people showed up with letters and photos, Martin said.

“That’s pretty much all they’re holding on to,” he said.

PHOTOS: Deadly bus crash

Martin said Gomez was a music lover who played the guitar and led the Earth Club at school. She wanted to go to Humboldt because she liked how remote and surrounded by the outdoors it is, he recalled. When Martin was feeling unsure about going to college and thinking about enlisting in the military, Gomez looked straight into his eyes and passionately implored him to continue his education, he said.

“They were going to see their futures, and instead their life was cut short,” Martin said. “At this point all we can hope for is that they’re in a better place.”

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victoria.kim@latimes.com

Twitter: @vicjkim