Update: Teen killed in San Jose crash identified as Willow Glen High School student
SAN JOSE -- A Willow Glen High School student died early Wednesday in San Jose after being struck by a vehicle on Rinconada Drive, according to the San Jose Police Department.
The collision occurred at about 12:56 a.m. in the 2400 block of Rinconada Drive just east of Almaden Expressway in the city's Canoas Garden neighborhood.
The Santa Clara County Coroner's Office identified the victim as 15-year-old Justin Estira. The San Jose Unified School District confirmed to CBS News Bay Area that Estira was a student at Willow Glen.
Friends, family, and neighbors gathered at a memorial to offer support and condolences and to grapple with their disbelief over Estira's death.
"It's shocking because he was a close friend," said Eden Tafolla, a fellow student. "He was very open, very friendly. He had many friends. He was very loved in the community and in the school."
Police said the driver, a teenage girl, was pulling into an apartment complex in a 2019 Subaru sedan when she struck the victim at a low speed. She stayed at the scene and is cooperating with the investigation.
"There's no indication that this was done on purpose," said SJPD spokesperson Sgt. Jorge Garibay.
SJPD said they are still investigating how, if at all, Estira and the driver knew each other. They also have not determined if the driver or the victim were under the influence of any drugs or alcohol.
There were other witnesses to the incident, including another juvenile in the car; police said those people are all cooperating as well.
"Currently, nobody is under arrest," added Garibay. "The driver stayed, but that doesn't mean there won't be any charges,"
SJUSD said that additional counselors were available this morning for Willow Glen students and employees and will also be available Wednesday, that last day of the school year.
This was San Jose's 19th fatal collision and 12th pedestrian death of 2023, according to the tweet.
