Sacramento, CA (February 14, 2024) The death of a child on Sunday, February 11th, left a community heartbroken. 8-year-old Alexander Cooper was with his 9-year-old sister, Jasmine Cooper, when they were both struck by a vehicle on Highway 50. Jasmine sustained serious injuries, but unfortunately, Alexander didn’t survive this tragic collision.
The two children were riding in a black Toyota in the fast lane of Highway 50 in Sacramento when one of the tires blew, authorities said. The children’s mother, Yari Quirarte, told officers that she turned on the car’s hazard lights, but the vehicle was almost hit several times. She worried that someone would hit the car so she took her children and stood with them in the center median, feeling they would be safer while they waited for help.
The children were standing in the center median of the highway, which is blocked on both sides by K-rails, officers said. Shortly after 4:30 p.m., a 30-year-old man was driving a Ford in the fast lane when he came upon the stalled Toyota. In an effort to avoid hitting the Toyota, the driver swerved towards the center median, the California Highway Patrol said. The driver did not see the children until it was too late. The Ford struck the two children before it came to a stop in the median.
Quirarte said she saw the Ford coming at a very high rate of speed but there was no time to react. The vehicle hit her daughter first and then hit Alexander, who was killed on impact, officers reported.
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The California Highway Patrol headed toward the scene, just east of 65th Street, having gotten word of the stalled Toyota. As they made their way to the vehicle, they received the call about the accident. They arrived and saw the dead Toyota sitting in the fast lane, blocking traffic. The Ford was in the center median and the children were both lying on the ground.
Paramedics arrived at the scene and rushed to give life-saving measures to the children. With heavy hearts, they realized that nothing could be done for Alexander. He was gone. They pronounced him dead at the scene. His sister, Jasmine, was seriously injured and rushed to UC Davis Medical Center to receive treatment.
The family has set up a GoFundMe account to help with Jasmine’s medical expenses and to help the family cover funeral costs for 8-year-old Alexander. The community mourns with the family over the loss of this adventurous second grader.
The California Highway Patrol is investigating this collision to try and determine what happened to cause the loss of a child’s life on Highway 50. They do not believe drugs or alcohol were factors in this deadly collision, officers said.
Everyone at Accident News Now extends our deepest condolences to the family of the 8-year-old boy who was so tragically killed in this horrific accident. We also send well wishes to the 9-year-old girl who sustained serious injuries. Our team of legal professionals is here to help if you have any questions or have been affected by this devastating collision.