SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - Sorting through a stack of pictures of Mike Lee you find he's smiling broadly or about to launch into a smile in every one of them.
Kani Tran's been his friend for over a decade.
"Mike, he's a great guy; he's a family man. And I'm gonna cry already. Sorry," Tran said.
No need to apologize. His life ended tragically.
The driver of this red Ford Explorer lost control on the rain-slickened I-15 after midnight Monday morning at Rancho Penasquitos, hitting the carpool lane barrier and rolling onto the roof.
Mike Lee swerved his Audi to avoid the wreckage but they collided and he died.
The SUV driver, 18-year-old Chloe Gordon, was hospitalized with serious injuries. The CHP charged her with felony driving under the influence and vehicular manslaughter. The D.A. has not yet filed.
For Mike Lee there is sadness.
"He's a family man and everything he does is for his family; his children; he has three: two girls and a boy."
He worked long hours as a security guard and helped his cousin-in-law get her restaurant off the ground. Always busy.
"He wanted to see his kids go through college because he didn't get a chance to.. that was his dream."
He also wanted to bring his mother's body back from New Jersey to be buried with his dad. Two reasons for the $80,000 goal at GoFundMe.
"That's his wish and now he's gone and we want to help him get that wish."
One more reason.
"The greatest sense of humor. His sense of humor and his heart--bigger than life!"
Visit the GoFundMe page here to donate.
