Family remembers Dos Palos coach killed in Merced County rollover crash

DOS PALOS, Calif. (KFSN) -- Loved ones and community members are honoring the legacy of Emeterio Cuevas, a longtime youth sports coach from Dos Palos who died in a rollover crash in Merced County over the weekend.

Cuevas, 59, was known throughout the community for his involvement in youth sports, coaching children in football and baseball. His death has left family members and community members mourning the loss of a man they described as generous, humble and dedicated to helping others.

According to family members, Cuevas was on a hunting trip with two friends Saturday morning when the vehicle they were traveling in flipped over, ejecting everyone inside. The crash occurred about three miles from the Mercey Hot Springs Resort in Merced County.

Cuevas recently helped lead an undefeated Little League baseball team to a championship. In December, he was honored by the mayor of Dos Palos for his involvement in youth sports.

His daughter, Valerie Cuevas, said her father's passion for coaching stemmed from his desire to support his grandchildren.

"He signed up to coach because of his grandson. Not knowing how to coach, not knowing what to do, but he was like, 'You know what? I'll coach for Kallan.' That's my oldest nephew," Valerie Cuevas said.

She said helping others was central to who her father was.

"That was his biggest thing. He had a big heart. It didn't matter who you were. He helped," she said.

While many knew Cuevas as a coach, his family remembered him as a father, grandfather and husband who loved spending time outdoors. Valerie Cuevas described her father as her best friend.

"I'm never going to forget that my dad taught me work ethic," she said.

His sudden death came as a shock to his family.

"That night we found out, I waited up, still thinking he was going to come home. We've all been taking it really hard, especially my nephews. He was very close to them. He was like their father figure because they lost their father at two years of age and younger," said Valerie.

Since his death, family members said they learned more about the quiet acts of kindness that defined Cuevas' life.

"He bought one of the boys football cleats because they couldn't afford it. I didn't know that. He's done all these little things that he kept to himself," Valerie Cuevas said.

Hearing those stories has brought comfort to the family as they grieve, she said, and has reinforced the impact Cuevas had on the community.

"I want people to remember that he loved everybody," Valerie Cuevas said.

A home run derby in honor of Cuevas is scheduled for Sunday. Community members are invited to attend and show their support. Donations from the event will go to the Cuevas family, and a GoFundMe has also been created to help with funeral expenses.

Click here if you would like to donate to the GoFundMe.

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