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The Frederick Police Department is investigating reports that a vehicle may have been towing a 16-year-old skateboarder who crashed and later died of head injuries.

Pablo Serpas, a Gov. Thomas Johnson High School junior, sustained his injuries on Oct. 18 while skateboarding in the 1500 block of Carey Place, Frederick, according to the Frederick Police Department.

He was flown to the R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore. Police were informed of Serpas' death on Oct. 21, but it is unclear when he died. Police have released few details about the incident.

"We would investigate any unintended death," said Lt. Shawn Martyak, head of the Criminal Investigation Unit of the Frederick Police Department. "There are reports that a vehicle was involved towing the skateboard, so we're investigating that."

Police did not release the teen's name, but Marita Loose, spokeswoman for Frederick County Public Schools, confirmed Serpas' identity.

Serpas attended Gov. Thomas Johnson High and the automotive technology program at the Frederick County Career and Technology Center, Loose said.

Greg Solberg, principal at the Career and Technology Center, said teachers and students remember Serpas as an outgoing young man who liked to help others.

Serpas was a native Spanish speaker, and in class often helped one Spanish-speaking student who was having trouble learning English, Solberg said.

"Pablo was very good to this student, making sure that he understood everything," Solberg said. "All the kids in the class liked him because he was very outgoing."

Immediately after Serpas' death, counselors and instructors at the Career and Technology Center talked to students about the incident, Solberg said.

Instructors also used the occasion to remind students about skateboarding safety, Solberg said. "They were just very quiet, very introspective about the fact that Pablo had died," he said.

Officials from TJ High did not return calls for comment.

E-mail Erica Green at egreen@gazette.net or Margarita Raycheva at mraycheva@gazette.net.