Friends, family celebrate life of young woman killed in downtown Houston crash

Lauren Robinson-Holliday and three former UH football players were killed after a speeding car ran a red light and crashed into their SUV. Two other men also died.

HOUSTON — Family and friends joined together at a southwest Houston church Monday to mourn and celebrate the life of a young woman killed in an awful car crash in downtown Houston.

Lauren Robinson-Holliday was driving home after picking up her friends when, according to Houston police, a car sped through a red light and hit them. Robinson-Holliday, 32, and three of her passengers, who were former University of Houston football players, were killed. An innocent bystander, who police said was homeless, was also killed as well as the driver of the other car who hit them.

‘She was my baby’

On Saturday, hundreds of family members and friends gathered at Hightower High School to honor Robinson-Holliday.

“She was well known, well respected,” Robinson-Holliday’s father said. “She was my baby. She was sweet.”

One of the victim’s brothers said she was a great example for many. He was overwhelmed by the support from the community where they grew up and thanked people for loving his sister.

“She was one of the most amazing and admirable human beings,” he said. “Her eyes were loud. Her laugh was loud because she loved life. She loved to laugh and she loved to live it. She lived it.”

Robinson-Holliday and three passengers, all former University of Houston football players, were killed when the red-light runner crashed into their vehicle, police said. The other driver and a homeless man on the sidewalk were also killed.

Orange and green balloons filled the sky in Missouri City to honor Robinson-Holliday. Orange was her favorite color, and green was for Hightower High School — where Robinson-Holliday cheered and graduated from.

READ: Names of all six people killed in downtown Houston crash

Robinson-Holliday leaves behind a spouse, parents, siblings and an entire community.

Former NFL, UH football player D.J. Hayden laid to rest

Former NFL and UH football player D.J. Hayden was also laid to rest over the weekend.

Hayden made national headlines in 2012 when he suffered a life-threatening injury in a practice at UH. After that injury, he had surgery to repair a tear in the main blood vessel that leads into the heart. The surgery was a succeed and Hayden ended up becoming a first-round draft pick of the Oakland Raiders in 2013 and played in eight seasons through 2020 for the Raiders, Detroit Lions and Jacksonville Jaguars.

Though many know him as a great football player, his two young daughters remember him as being one really cool dad.

“He always let us put makeup and nail polish on him,” said his oldest daughter during his funeral service. “He always bought us the best shoes. He would watch “Little Rascals” with us. He surprised us with a trip to Puerto Rico, but when it was bedtime, he put himself to sleep first.”

Hayden and the other UH football players who were killed — Zachary McMillian and Ralph Oragwu — were also honored Saturday by the current UH football team. Players wore ribbons on their helmets with the initials DH, ZM and RO.

Watch family members, friends and former teammates speak at Hayden’s funeral in the video below:

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