The Santa Clara County Medical Examiner confirmed that 6-year-old King Holguin was the boy tragically killed on Friday night on Interstate 280 in San Jose. The accident occurred when Holguin, who had escaped his home for a brief period, ran across the third lane of the highway just before 11 p.m. His mother, Victoria Olivas, spoke to KTVU, explaining that her son was autistic and non-verbal, and had no understanding of the dangers posed by traffic.
According to Solis Sisneros, Holguin’s daycare provider, the boy had a fascination with rain and had a tendency to run away. His mother also mentioned that he lacked awareness of traffic, which made him more vulnerable in such situations. Sadly, this combination of circumstances led to the fatal incident on the freeway, which occurred on the northbound side of Interstate 280, just south of Leland Avenue, about 3.5 miles from downtown San Jose.
The crash took place around 10:52 p.m. when Holguin ran into the third lane of traffic and was struck by a 36-year-old man from San Jose. The impact left the child with severe injuries, and he was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. As a result of the accident, the freeway was shut down for nearly an hour, reopening at 12:01 a.m. The California Highway Patrol is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash.
In the wake of this heartbreaking loss, a GoFundMe page has been created to support Holguin’s family. As of Tuesday afternoon, the fundraiser has raised over $24,000. Additionally, several community fundraisers are planned in San Jose over the weekend to assist with expenses. The investigation into the accident is ongoing as authorities work to determine the full details of what led to this tragedy.