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Christopher Saenz left his mark as a phenomenal student "loved for his intelligence" by his classmates and teachers at Robert F. Kennedy Charter School.

Saenz, 16, died after he was struck by a vehicle before dawn Sunday on Second Street Southwest, police said.

News of his death reached the school Monday morning.

"He was my star student," English teacher Dan Angelus said.

"He just brought light into the room. The boy was a real genius."

Saenz was a transfer to RFK this year from a traditional Albuquerque high school, but Angelus didn't know which one.

The teacher said Saenz, as a junior, was also taking classes at Central New Mexico Community College. "He was extremely, highly motivated and gifted," Angelus said.

"I'm really mourning. He was a special, special kid."

Angelus said he was a mentor and a friend to Saenz who spent hours in his classroom discussing government, politics, philosophy, human nature, metaphysics and life.

"The guy was really deep. Every week he was reading a new novel, and I just kept piling it on him and he loved it.

"I saw a lot of myself in him," Angelus said.

"He was really well liked by the students and always helping them. He never flaunted his intelligence."

But Saenz was "kind of a solitary person, a loner, socially. We loved him for his intelligence, but we didn't know him well."

Police said witnesses to the 3:58 a.m. accident said Saenz was standing in the middle of the roadway at 1920 Second St. S.W. and yelling when he was struck by the vehicle.

Saenz was hospitalized Sunday in critical condition at University of New Mexico Hospital. Hospital officials on Monday confirmed his death.

Students were considering holding a memorial at the school on Friday, Angelus said.