Man killed in Costa Mesa crash was a former Vanguard University student

A 23-year-old man who was killed in a three-car crash in Costa Mesa early Tuesday had attended Vanguard University and wanted to become a math teacher, according to a university representative and his family.

Enrique Orlando Marquez, a Tustin resident, was a year shy of graduating from the Christian university in Costa Mesa with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics, his family wrote on a crowdfunding website to raise money for his funeral costs.

The fundraiser, posted Wednesday on the website YouCaring, had raised more than $15,000 by Friday afternoon.

A Vanguard University representative confirmed Marquez was enrolled at the school from fall 2015 to fall 2016 and was a junior.

“Our faculty and Enrique’s classmates will remember him for his sense of humor, laughter and thoughtfulness. He was a wonderful part of our campus community during his time here and he will be greatly missed. Our hearts and prayers go out to the Marquez family,” Mike Wilson, associate provost and dean of Vanguard University, said in a prepared statement.

Marquez, nicknamed “Quique,” built homes in Tijuana and traveled to orphanages in El Salvador as part of missionary work he completed each year, according to his family.

“He had a big heart. He had a calling from Christ to help others,” his family wrote.

Marquez attended Mission Bible Church in Tustin and was a drummer on the worship team, the family said.

“Enrique shined for the glory of his savior and now walks with him forever,” the church stated in a Facebook post. “As the family of God, we come alongside [father] Enrique Sr., [mother] Berenice and siblings to mourn this deep loss and rejoice at the stewardship of Enrique’s gospel-centered life.”

Costa Mesa police received a report of the crash at about 12:20 a.m.

Witnesses said a Honda, which authorities said Marquez was driving, was traveling west on Mesa Drive near Santa Ana Avenue when a Volkswagen SUV with two people inside went through a red light at high speed and struck the Honda.

Marquez was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of a third vehicle involved was not hurt.

The SUV’s driver, identified as Kimberly Rene Martin, 24, of Costa Mesa, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol, police said.

Martin was released from custody so she could receive medical treatment at a hospital. Her injuries were not life-threatening, police said.

The Orange County district attorney’s office said Friday that prosecutors are waiting for reports from the Police Department and have not filed charges against Martin.

hannah.fry@latimes.com

Twitter: @HannahFryTCN

UPDATES:

5:30 p.m. May 7: This article was updated with information and comment from Vanguard University representatives.

This article was originally published May 4 at 4:55 p.m.