‘He was our best friend’: Family of teen driver found dead after crash into Willamette River speaks out

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- A family in Oregon City is living every parent’s worst nightmare. Portland police confirm the car that crashed in the Willamette River that killed two people, is a white 1996 Toyota Corolla — belonging to the Garcia-Chavez family. They say their 19-year-old son Roberto Garcia-Chavez was likely behind the wheel when the car plunged into the water with three of his friends inside. Dive teams recovered Roberto's body, and the body of another unidentified person, while one of the other occupants in the vehicle somehow survived. Now, crews are all but calling off the search for a fourth and final passenger. Roberto's sister, Yanett, spoke exclusively to KOIN 6 on Wednesday night, sharing the family’s heartbreak and a message they want everyone to hear. "He was our best friend for all of us in our own ways," she said. Yanett says she is prepping the funeral and helping her parents through their grief. "I think we've all kind of accepted the fact that he's not here anymore, but in a spiritual sense, in our Catholic faith, we truly believe he is with the Lord," she said. Initially, Portland police told KOIN 6 the car raced through downtown, ran red lights, and went the wrong way around 2 a.m. on Monday morning. When officers tried to stop the car, they say the driver sped off. Police and Roberto's family say they still don't know why. "There's nothing that we can do now. We can't go back in time. I can't do anything to bring my brother back," Yanett said. Yanett says Roberto was overall a good kid, active in JROTC, and had plans to join the military before choosing to stay closer to home. "Over the course of just a very brief 15 seconds, three block radius, the vehicle accelerated eastbound on SW Harvey Milk and crossed Nato Parkway, crossed Waterfront Park and then plunged into the Willamette River," Brian Hughes from Portland police said. Despite the tragedy, Yanett says there’s no blame, only heartbreak. Police say specialized dive teams used sonar to locate the submerged car. And they’re still searching for one more person, now presumed dead. "We're hopeful that they do find him soon. And we're just hoping that that family also gets closure," Yanett said. Three families are grieving, desperate for answers. And Yanett has this message for other young people: "Be responsible about it. You only get one life. This is not a game. It's a journey that you have to experience," she said. Portland police say the submerged car will be removed once a qualified contractor is secured. Recovery will likely require a barge or similar vessel, but it could take time due to contracts and scheduling.