Cobb County

Cobb County high school student killed in crash leaving church

COBB COUNTY, Ga. — Students and faculty at a Cobb County high school are mourning the death of a 17-year-old student killed in a car crash leaving church.

Andre Cordero, a junior at North Cobb High School, was killed Friday night as he was pulling out of Iglesia Centro. Police said another driver crashed into his car on South Cobb Drive in Marietta.

A friend who was also in the car, James Rosales, is in the hospital with serious injuries. The teens were leaving a Friday night youth group.

Channel 2 Cobb County bureau chief Chris Jose talked to the church’s pastor, Jesse Perez, who said Cordero was new to the youth group.

"Andre was here for the first time," Perez said. "And he was so happy to come with his friend James."

Perez said the pair came to church together and had evening plans with other youth group members.

"There were in line, right here in the parking lot," Perez said. "Just to go out to eat. And after praising the Lord, this tragedy happened."

Police say Cordero turned into the path of another car. A woman in a Chevy Trailblazer crashed into the teens. Cordero died at the scene. Rosales has several broken bones.

"It could've been any one of our other kids," Perez said. "After service, they're young. They just get into each other's cars and they just leave."

In a letter to parents, North Cobb's principal says, in part:

I regret to inform you of the death of a current Warrior student …. Counselors and the district crisis team were on hand to visit each of the classes of this student to offer them a time to talk and share their feelings …. On-going support will be available.

Perez said Sunday morning's service was difficult.

"It was so hard for me that I didn't even know what to preach," Perez said.

The other driver is not facing charges. The Cordero family is requesting privacy as they plan Andre’s funeral.