LEE COUNTY, Fla. — Fire trucks from Captiva, Bonita Springs, Iona-Mcgregor, Fort Myers and Lehigh Acres lined the side of Hodges Funeral Home at Lee Memorial Park.
Family members have asked the fire department to help honor Eric Paul, one of five teens killed in an overnight crash in Fort Myers.
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Before he died he was part of a high school fire academy.
“Eric would just smile. He would not bring the negative out and they will find other positive ways to make you come to that,” said Judi Fifier, Eric’s grandmother.
“He would have been one of the ones that came to rescue you, you knew he would get the job done,” said his former fire academy instructor, Tim Keith.
His grandmother said he was close to his fire department colleagues and Texas Roadhouse co-workers. They were an extension of his family.
“When you’re a loving person like Eric, everyone gravitates,” said Fifer.
His mom, Cassie, also worked with him at Texas Roadhouse.
She’s grieving the loss of not only her son but other teens she worked with, who also felt like children to her.
Investigators are still trying to figure out how Eric and his four friends ended up in a pond along Top Golf Way.
Police say speed was a factor in the crash.
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