It was a sad day for students Tuesday at a San Diego area middle school as they mourned the tragic, sudden death of a 13-year-old classmate killed in a bicycle crash.
On Monday, just after 2:30 p.m., Jose Hernandez and his 14-year-old friend were riding their bikes down a hill on northbound 61st Street in San Diego. As the teens neared the turn to Imperial Avenue, Hernandez lost control of his bicycle.
He rode across the road, hit a curb and struck the guardrail by the MTS trolley tracks. Officers with the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) said Hernandez flew another 10 feet, hitting his head on the trolley tracks. The boy died at the scene from massive head trauma.
Investigators said the brakes on Hernandez’s bike did not work. He was also not wearing a helmet.
Hernandez was an 8th grade student at Horace Mann Middle School on 54th Street. The principal of the school sent a letter home to parents Tuesday informing them of the student’s death.
Hernandez's friend Serenity Espinoza told NBC 7 the school was abnormally quiet on Tuesday.
"It's sad because we would call him the life of the party, like he was the life of the party, always making people laugh, cracking cheesy jokes and then laughing because they were so cheesy. So it's just... it's kind of hard," she said.
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NBC 7 spoke briefly to Hernandez’s friend who was with him at the time of the accident. The boy said he was doing okay, but said he won’t be riding his bike again any time soon.
Joanne Malacara, another school friend, said she and others are planning on making customized shirts to wear in Hernandez's honor.
"We are going to make a list of all the people who want shirts and customize them and give money to the family for the funeral," said Malacara.
The group is also planning a memorial at Colina Del Sol Park just up the street from the school at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday. They will do a bike ride in his honor there.
On Tuesday, police confirmed Hernandez and his friend had been robbed about a half hour before the deadly accident. Investigators said seven males approached the two teens in the 6400 block of Skyline and stole their money. No weapons were seen, police said.
At first, witnesses told police it appeared the teens were being chased by robbers at the time of the bike crash. However, investigators have now confirmed that wasn’t the case, saying it does not appear the robbery is connected to the accident. Investigators do not believe Hernandez was being pursued.
At this point, police say the teen’s death is a tragic accident.
