Late Friday night, the hum of traffic on Interstate 280 in San Jose was broken by tragedy. On the shoulder of the highway, just south of Leland Avenue, a 6-year-old boy ran into the darkness, his small figure stepping into the path of oncoming cars. Moments later, a collision ended his life.
It was just before 11 p.m. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers arrived to a scene no one ever wants to witness — the boy, fragile and injured, lying near the shoulder of the road. Paramedics rushed him to the hospital, but the injuries were too severe. A life that had barely begun was gone.
A 36-year-old man driving a 2024 Nissan Altima had struck the child in the third lane of the highway. For the driver, the moment must have been a nightmare — a figure appearing out of nowhere, headlights catching just a glimpse before impact. The highway, meant for speed and safety, became the site of sorrow and shock.
The reasons for why the boy ran onto the highway remain unclear. Maybe he was scared. Maybe he was confused. Whatever his reason, he was alone in a place where no child should be, where the noise, the lights, and the rush of traffic turned deadly.