Funeral services were held Wednesday for a Mineola High School senior and varsity soccer player who died on Christmas Eve from injuries suffered in a car crash.

The crash happened on Dec. 21. Police say Christian Melendez was a passenger in a Mitsubishi Montero that veered off Willis Avenue, crashed into a fence and flipped over in a sump on the corner of Center Street. Police say the driver and another passenger survived.

On Wednesday, family and friends gathered at Faith Baptist Church for Melendez's funeral.

A friend set up a GoFundMe page in Melendez's honor to help the family he leaves behind. It surpassed $35,000 in just a few days.

Melendez's father Jose says he is overwhelmed by the support of the Mineola community.

A sunrise vigil will be held for Melendez at 6:30 a.m. Thursday at Mineola High School. An honorary soccer game will be played at the school in his memory at 3 p.m.

"It's heartbreaking to see a person's life end at such a young age," district Superintendent Michael Nagler said in a statement.