Maldonado attended Hedgesville High School but switched to Musselman High School because his mother teaches there, said Joan Albright, who is helping organize a scholarship fund in Maldonado's name.
Maldonado, who went by the name "Mani," had many friends in and out of school, said Albright, who said she is a cousin to Maldonado's mother.
When Maldonado attended Musselman High School, he was named "Mr. Musselman" in a competition that was like a beauty contest for boys, Albright said.
Maldonado was active in church and had a pleasant personality, Albright said.
"He was a 'yes, ma'am, no, ma'am' type of boy," Albright said.
Maldonado was employed at Regal Theater as assistant manager and he attended Hagerstown Business College.
Albright said it is not known where Maldonado was going when the accident occurred Sunday morning.
"It's a big question," Albright said.
A West Virginia State Police official said he was notified of the crash about 5:30 a.m.
Rescue workers worked for about 21/2 hours to cut Maldonado from the wreckage of his vehicle, a spokesman for the Baker Heights Volunteer Fire Department said.
