The Manhattan Beach community is mourning the death of a Mira Costa High School student following a hit-and-run collision on Tuesday night.

Mira Costa senior Ford Savela succumbed to injuries at a hospital following the dramatic collision at 3rd and Sepulveda.

"This senseless loss has profoundly affected our community, and our thoughts are with everyone impacted, especially those who knew Ford and his family," wrote MBUSD Superintentdent John Bowes in a letter to parents on Friday night.

"Ford was an exceptional student and a cherished member of our community. He attended MBUSD schools, including Grand View Elementary and MBMS, and dedicated himself to making a positive impact. As a member of the Beach Cities Health District’s Youth Advisory Council - a youth-led group focused on promoting the health and well-being of their peers - he was deeply passionate about making a difference in his community," said Bowes.

"His empathy, insight, and passion for uplifting his peers left a lasting impact on all who knew him," added Bowes. "Fellow Mustangs describe him as a kind, intelligent, and compassionate individual. He was known for listening to others, even those outside his immediate circle, and he often tutored and supported classmates in AP courses."

This past summer, Savela had earned his Teen Mental Health First Aid Certification through allcove Beach Cities.

The MBUSD school board began its meeting on Wednesday night by acknowledging the "tragic loss in our community" with a moment of silence in honor of Savela.

"Our hearts go out to his family, friends, and all of the students and staff who knew him," said MBUSD Board President Wysh Weinstein. "He was a cherished member of the MBUSD community."

Mira Costa has offered additional counseling support for students and staff in collaboration with several community partners including Beach Cities Health District and Taking Time, a grief support group.

Manhattan Beach News spoke to an eyewitness to the accident, who asked to remain anonymous, but who has been working with police. The witness had been walking along Sepulveda on Tuesday night when he heard a car coming at high speeds - "about 70 miles per hour" -  headed southbound on Sepulveda. "It was going fast enough that it caught my attention," the witness added. 

The speeding car crashed into the car carrying Savela, causing it to flip, and the speeding car circled around, hitting the fence across the street at the construction site at the former Goat Hill Plaza, according to the witness.

The driver of the speeding car, identified by police as Kameron Lee Peterson, left the car and escaped the scene, the witness said. A woman who was also in the speeding car stayed on the scene. The witness told MB News that the suspect is now in custody, which MBPD has since confirmed.

The Manhattan Beach Police Department on January 13 released a statement that suspect Kameron Lee Peterson was in custody as of January 9, and the Los Angeles County District Attorney had filed three felony charges against him on January 13.

Meanwhile, local teens have been gathering at a memorial spot outside the Taco Bell at 3rd and Sepulveda, where the number of flowers and tributes has steadily been growing.

At the memorial, one woman left a poignant note: "Your family had you for Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day, and you sadly parted with this earth a week later. I am at the hotel next door and ran out to see if you all were okay. I knew one of you had passed on to Heaven and may you rest, young man, safely in God's arms. And God, please look over and ensure the other young men's well-being involved in this crash. May they recover and find peace. Gone too soon. I will have you all forever in my heart and prayers."