‘Deeply missed.’ Funeral for Tri-Cities UC Davis student killed in crash is open to public

A funeral and celebration of life are planned in the Tri-Cities for Codi Orland Mateo, a talented Pasco native who died in a March car wreck near the University of California-Davis.

The Chiawana graduate was 19 when he was killed. He was in his senior year of studies and working to become an anesthesiologist. He also was heavily involved in music and was part of the UC Davis Filipinx Association for Health Careers.

Mateo was driving an SUV with two other UC Davis students, according to the California Highway Patrol. All three died after being hit head-on by a wrong-way driver on Highway 99, about 60 miles south of Sacramento.

The woman who hit them about 12:45 a.m. also died. She was reportedly driving drunk and her headlights were off after they were damaged earlier that night in a hit-and-run collision.

A memorial service was held for Mateo at UC Davis, a family member told the Tri-City Herald. A funeral and celebration of life are scheduled in Tri-Cities for May 13 and the services are open to anyone wanting to attend.

The church service is 10 a.m. to noon at St. Joseph Catholic Church on Garfield Street, followed by inurnment at 12:30 p.m. at Einan’s at Sunset funeral home on the Highway 240 bypass in Richland.

“We’re hoping to spread the word and invite those who wanted to say goodbye to our Codi,” said the family member. “He’s well loved in the community and we want to invite those (of you who want) to be part of his funeral and celebration of life.”

This story was originally published May 3, 2023 at 5:00 AM.