Friends of Blake Harold, killed last week in a motorcycle accident, hold a car wash Saturday in San Gabriel to raise money for his funeral.

The shocking news came in waves. First, my son called and said Blake died. Then my other son had it on his Facebook. My wife and I were shocked.

Blake Harold, 20, was killed on March 12 when a man driving a Toyota Matrix crashed into the motorcycle he was riding at Emperor Avenue and Rosemead Boulevard in Temple City. Blake died at the scene of the crash. No one else was hurt.

Blake graduated from Temple City High School in 2008 with my older son and played on the freshmen and sophomore basketball teams with both my sons at Temple City High School. He was always playing basketball at Temple City’s Live Oak Park as well.

The staff at Temple City High School raised money this past week, led by Janet Smith, PTA president. We wanted to help Kimberly, Blake’s mom, with the funeral costs so we went down to the Carl’s Jr. with our cars and also made a donation. I remember Kim Harold working sometimes two jobs to help make ends meet and raise her three sons. I would often give Blake and her other basketball-playing son Steven a ride in my car during summer basketball game tournaments.

To help out Kimberly, donations can be sent to: Kimberly Harold, 5716 Sultana No. 7, Temple City, CA., 91780.

Services for Blake are Thursday in Los Angeles.