Last week Francisco Julian Medina, 34, of Pocatello died in a crash near Malad. He was a passenger in a 2004 GMC Sierra that reportedly overcorrected near mile marker 3 while southbound on I-15, causing it to flip and come to rest on its roof.  The driver was air lifted to Portneuf Medical Center, while Medina passed away as a result of his injuries.  Oneida County Coroner, Brad Horsley, said Medina died due to trauma caused by the accident.  While Medina lived in the Pocatello area, his sister Shannell Hernandez stated that she had a lot of special memories of camping with her brother at the Malad summit.

Shannell stated: “I’d like to say that Junior and I had a special bond.  We were the closest out of any of my siblings.  He and I always had a close relationship and I’m so sad he won’t get the chance to meet his nephew when he’s born, but I’m glad he got to see me when I was pregnant.  He would make fun of me because he thought it was weird to see me like that, but then he’d laugh and reassure me that being a parent was the best thing that had ever happened to him, and that he knew I’d be okay too.”

Shannell adds that “one of his greatest qualities was that he didn’t care about anyone’s opinions of him.  He always stayed genuine to who he was as a person and didn’t change who
he was.”

As the family begins to share memories and thoughts of their departed son and brother, they also face the challenges involved in the aftermath of his passing.  In order to help with some of the expenses involved and the needs of his three year old son Estevan, the family has set up a Go Fund Me account, which can be accessed at gofund.me/dbe25c64.  As of Tuesday, about half of the $7,000 goal had been raised.

Medina’s obituary said he was “known for his vivacious spirit, and was always the life of the party, bringing laughter to those around him with his quirky jokes…Francisco will forever be remembered for his infectious laughter, his love for his family, and the joy he brought to everyone around him. Medina loved basketball, football, and fishing but his greatest love was his three-year-old son.” 

“Shannell said it all, he will be missed by everyone,” his mother Gloria Perez said.