A boy, a bike, a summer's night

A couple of months ago, I noticed this memorial at the corner of El Camino Real and Henderson:

When you see something like that—even at a distance—you know that someone’s had a day much worse than you’ve ever seen, especially when there are stuffed toys involved.

It turns out that Juan Pablo Garcia Venegas was struck by a car while riding his bike on the night of 15 July, and died of his injuries later. He would have been 13 this week. I can't find any details on the accident; there's a Carl's Jr. right at that corner, and a Starbucks the next block over. I wonder if Juan and his friends were out late getting something cold to drink; or just out for a ride. His mother was the sole parent, and the community pitched in to help her give her son a funeral.

There’s video of the aftermath, but I’m not linking to it. I realized while watching it that I could well have heard the first responders going to the scene—I hear everything that comes down El Camino, and Henderson is only a few blocks away. Whenever I hear the sirens—fire engines, EMTs, police—I give thanks that help is on its way to those who need it.

Since the memorial appeared, the stuffed toys and flowers have disappeared, occasionally replaced by other votive objects. But I see the bicycle several times a week, and I’m so sorry for that family’s loss.