TikTok content creator Gabriel Salazar has died at the age of 19, People reports.
Authorities confirmed that the young social media star from San Antonio, Texas, died in a car crash at roughly 1:25 AM local time on Sunday, September 26, after being pursued by police.
According to a statement issued by the Zavala County Sheriff's Office, a deputy "overheard a Crystal City Police Department officer initiate a traffic stop" with a white Chevrolet Camaro.
The police officer then informed the deputy that he was in "an active pursuit" with the vehicle.
The deputy was said to have "assisted with deploying a tire deflation device but was unsuccessful."
Salazar had been traveling north on Highway US 83 when he suddenly drove off the road, over-corrected, and then sped off into a ditch.
The police officer later informed the deputy that the vehicle collided with a number of trees, "had rolled over and that it was fully engulfed in flames."
Four people including Salazar were pronounced dead at the scene.
The other deceased passengers have been identified as 41-year-old Jose Luis Jimenez-Mora, 23-year-old Jose Molina-Lara, and 36-year-old Sergio Espinoza-Flores.
Salazar, or as he was known on TikTok, @Gabenotbabe, had managed to rack up more than a million followers after creating short lip-syncing videos and comedy skits on the platform.
The teenager's family has since set up a GoFundMe to raise money for his funeral.
The description for the online fundraiser read: "I don’t know what’s real and not real anymore but unfortunately gabe past away on a car crash September 26 we couldn’t believe it the moment we found out. [sic]"
It continued: "Don't really want to get into details because it’s so hard for us to even talk about the pain he went through. Never expected this happen but now you’re watching over us. [sic]"
It also contained the following tribute to the 19-year-old: "Gabriel loved his family and was always horsing around with [his] sister and little brother. He was always there with a big hug and smile, and his family will never forget those warm moments.
"He was so funny with a quiet sense of humor and sarcasm. I cannot believe that I am sitting here writing this. Words cannot express the heartbreak our entire community is feeling from the loss of our Gabriel. Your family and friends miss you."
At the time of writing, the GoFundMe page had raised more than $38,000.
