Faith fed into much of Victor Aguilar's life.

Religion was a common theme in the former Pasco 19-year-old's artwork, and he spoke of wanting to be a missionary.

"He told me one time he saw God," said his friend MacArthur Garcia, 19. "He was walking through the park and crying."

Aguilar, a 2012 graduate of Chiawana High School, was killed Monday morning in a car accident with his father, Victor Aguilar-Rocha.

Aguilar was getting ready to start classes at Big Bend Community College in Moses Lake to become a pilot.

Shy and reserved, Aguilar viewed those close to him as just as important as his faith and was looking forward to his future, family and friends said Tuesday.

"He was a very good guy," said his sister, Maggie, 17. "He was a talented student."

The crash happened about 6:30 a.m. on Dodson Road north of Road 4 N.W. Their vehicle went off the road, landing in a nearby drainage canal.

Aguilar-Rocha, 38, died from crash injuries. Aguilar drowned in the canal, according to a Grant County Sheriff's Office news release.

Sheriff's officials could not be reached Tuesday about the possible cause of the accident and other details.

Aguilar moved to Moses Lake after graduation to work as a field worker with his father at the Willow Drive Nursery.

Aguilar, who lived with his mother Martha Leo in Pasco while attending Chiawana, was close to his dad and enjoyed visiting him in Moses Lake, said relatives and friends. His sister said their father was dedicated to providing for the two of them and their 12-year-old sister, Lupita.

"He was like a hero to me. He was a strong worker," Maggie said.

She said her brother was to start classes at Big Bend on Tuesday. His Facebook profile said he was studying French and art along with preparing to be a pilot.

He was an honor student at Chiawana and a member of the Mathematics Engineering Science Achievement, or MESA, program. Garcia said he managed to convince a shy Aguilar to go out for track their senior year.

Garcia said Aguilar held his friends as dearly as he did his family, often calling them his brothers, as he did in Garcia's yearbook.

Funeral arrangements still are being arranged and will be handled by Providence Funeral Service of Quincy.

Garcia's mother, Kim Garcia, has set up a memorial fund at U.S. Bank for contributions to help the family pay for funeral expenses. Donations can be made at any U.S. Bank branch to the Victor Aguilar Memorial Fund.