'Roadies for life:' Texas Roadhouse teen employees honored in memorial

Emma Behrmann, Fort Myers News-Press
Updated ·3 min read

The words "Roadies for life" echoed among the people grasping candles and heart shaped balloons in the Texas Roadhouse parking lot Thursday night.

For some, Texas Roadhouse is a restaurant with buttery rolls, but for this community, it’s a family.

“Texas Roadhouse is farther than being a worker,” said 19-year-old employee Tahir Stephens. "Everyone feels like it's a family."

And this family just lost five members.

Five teenagers died after the car they were in crashed into a marshy retention pond next to Topgolf in Fort Myers, less than two minutes from the restaurant where they worked. Texas Roadhouse hosted a memorial Thursday at 9 p.m. to honor the four teenagers who worked at the restaurant — Amanda Ferguson, Eric Paul, Breanna Coleman and Jackson Eyre — and the fifth, Jesus Salinas, who was named "an honorary Roadie for life."

Friends, family and members of the community set off lanterns on Thursday night, June 29, 2023, in remembrance of the five teenagers who died on Sunday night or Monday morning when their car crashed into a Fort Myers pond. The memorial and vigil were held at the Texas Roadhouse restaurant where four of them worked.
Friends, family and members of the community set off lanterns on Thursday night, June 29, 2023, in remembrance of the five teenagers who died on Sunday night or Monday morning when their car crashed into a Fort Myers pond. The memorial and vigil were held at the Texas Roadhouse restaurant where four of them worked.

The restaurant at 8021 Dani Drive closed to the public Monday and invited all staff and family to share food and celebrate the teens’ lives. On Tuesday, family and friends gathered at the crash site for a balloon release. This week-long celebration of life continued when the restaurant closed two hours earlier than normal to remember the young lives taken on the brink of a bright future.

Previous coverage: “Leaders in our restaurant”: Teens dead in pond crash remembered at Texas Roadhouse

Honoring the teens: Balloon release, memorial planned for Fort Myers Texas Roadhouse teen crash victims

Teary eyes and warm embraces were exchanged beneath the orange and pink hues of the sunset sky an hour before Thursday’s memorial began.

"They made the sky look pretty for us today," Stephens said, gazing toward the clouds.

Balloons in the shape of two Js, an A, an E and a B floated near the wall of flower bouquets and photos of the teens.

After the picturesque sky faded to dark, manager Chris Lampley called the crowd's attention. They began the memorial with a prayer, and then heard from Fort Myers Mayor Kevin Anderson.

Miguel Rodriguez and Mark Coleman embrace on Thursday night, June 29, 2023, at a memorial for the five teenagers who died on Sunday night or Monday morning when their car crashed into a Fort Myers pond. The memorial and vigil were held at the Texas Roadhouse restaurant where four of them worked.
Miguel Rodriguez and Mark Coleman embrace on Thursday night, June 29, 2023, at a memorial for the five teenagers who died on Sunday night or Monday morning when their car crashed into a Fort Myers pond. The memorial and vigil were held at the Texas Roadhouse restaurant where four of them worked.

But the managers' speeches reinforced the Texas Roadhouse ideal of family.

"My family lost four of our roadie families this week," Lampley said. "We are hurting right along with you."

He continued and said the word that comes to mind when he thinks of each of the employees they lost. Eric: strong. Jackson: kind. Amanda: laughter. Bre: her smile. And he said he knew Jesus was a good kid because he was friends with "our kids."

Manager Tracey Hipner, the known mom of the restaurant, called the four employees her kids, too.

"I love those kids," she said. "I would tell them, 'I love you. Make good choices.'" Even Salinas, who didn't work at the restaurant, had been to her house.

The large turnout, which left few vacant parking spaces throughout the entire Colonial Square shopping center, was expected. Maribel Caro, whose son wrestled with Paul, said 300 lanterns were purchased to be released at the crash site.

The teenagers went to different schools -- Lehigh Senior, East Lee County and South Fort Myers high schools -- so the tragedy impacted the whole county, she said. Facebook posts also garnered widespread attention and support for the families.

Eric Paul's father, Andrew Cox, speaks on Thursday night, June 29, 2023, at a memorial for the five teenagers who died on Sunday night or Monday morning when their car crashed into a Fort Myers pond. The memorial and vigil were held at the Texas Roadhouse restaurant where four of them worked.
Eric Paul's father, Andrew Cox, speaks on Thursday night, June 29, 2023, at a memorial for the five teenagers who died on Sunday night or Monday morning when their car crashed into a Fort Myers pond. The memorial and vigil were held at the Texas Roadhouse restaurant where four of them worked.

After speeches concluded, small, white candles were passed among football players, wrestlers, coworkers, grandparents, parents and children. Flames illuminated the sky. A chant broke out.

"Texas... Roadhouse! Legendary... Food! Legendary... Service! Get some... uhhh!" reverberated through the crowd. With the final shout, hands let go of the balloons and the wind whisked them into the sky.

The crowd then made its way to the crash site on Topgolf Way, guided by the Fort Myers Fire Department, to release lanterns in the evening's final act of remembrance.

Emma Behrmann is a breaking news reporter for the Naples Daily News and Fort Myers News-Press. You may reach her at EBehrmann@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @emmabehrmann.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Texas Roadhouse teen employees lives honored