Family and friends remember Alexandria teenager who died in tragic car crash

ALEXANDRIA, La. (KALB) – On September 17, a 17-year-old tragically died in a car accident in Alexandria.

On September 20, friends and family of Patrick Carnell Sias III, affectionately known as “Tre,” came together and celebrated his life.

“I had so many dreams for Patrick and this didn't happen because he's not here,” said Catherine Croal, Sias' mother. “When his life ended, my life ended too.”

For Catherine Croal, September 17 will be remembered forever. Croal said she remembers that day vividly. After a long shift at work, she tried to unwind, but something kept her awake.

“My heart wouldn't let me sleep. It was pulsing and I just couldn't sleep,” Croal said. “As a mother, you feel that, you feel your lifeline.”

Croal said she spoke to Momma K on the phone and Momma K's son Deshaun was in the car with Tre that day. She said Momma K confirmed the boys were in an accident.

Croal said she went to the hospital, but hospital staff did not give her any helpful information. Desperate for answers, Croal headed to the scene of the accident.

At the intersection of Winn and 2nd Street in downtown Alexandria, she was confronted with the unthinkable.

“I saw the bag and it was zipped up,” Croal said. “But no, that's not my child. Who wants that to be your child?”

For Croal, her worst fears had come true. Tre, her first-born child, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.

Croal said she believes there is more to her son's death. She said her son was an informed driver and tried to take his friend Deshaun to the hospital after he was injured.

“See that hill there?” Carol asked. “They came and sped over it. He was going 101 miles an hour, they told me. He was going 101 miles an hour, trying to get to the hospital, panicking and not thinking, 'Here's this hill and I need to slow down.' He wasn't thinking, he was just thinking, 'We need to get to the hospital. We need to get cured, we need to save ourselves.'”

Croal, still grieving, said she had to do something to honor her son. That night, dozens of family and friends gathered to release balloons in his honor.

A GoFundMe campaign has also been set up to help with funeral expenses.

Croal said she was grateful for the large turnout, but had a message for Tre's young friends he leaves behind.

“Go and be successful. Don't let these roads slow you down,” Croal said. “Don't let them stop you from going, because you are on the road to greatness.”

Croal said her son was a 12th grader at Peabody Magnet High School, wanted to be a firefighter and dreamed of earning an engineering degree.

She said she remembered their last conversation and wished she could say one last thing to him.

“I wish I could tell him I love you,” Croal said. “Because I was so excited the last time I spoke to him.”

Croal said their last conversation was about who would shower first.

“I made him shower first, and I wish I hadn't made him shower first,” Croal said. “I wish I had told him to sit down somewhere. I wish I had told him that.”

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