SAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio family is dealing with double heartbreak: the death of a 12-year-old boy in a crash that may have been caused by another relative.
San Antonio police say it appears a driver in his 20s was involved in street racing when he lost control of his car around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday and crashed into another vehicle.
The crash happened on Culebra Road near Elmendorf Road.
Officers at the scene say the man’s 12-year-old nephew was in the car with him at the time. The child, later identified as Jonathan Rivera, died from his injuries.
Police say the man’s car slammed into another car heading in the opposite direction. A 66-year-old woman in that other car was injured and taken to a hospital for treatment.
“It was very, very heartbreaking,” said one woman who happened to be leaving a business nearby at the time of the crash. “I heard the impact. It was horrible.”
The witness said she was loading items into her own vehicle just a few feet from where the crash scene came to be when she suddenly turned around and saw the driver losing control.
She said immediately afterward, she ran over and tried to help the man and Rivera, who were trapped in the crumpled car.
“But, of course, it was impossible,” she said, adding that the car doors were stuck.
Firefighters had to cut the roof off the vehicle to free the man and Rivera.
On Wednesday morning, a woman who said she was related to both of them showed up at the scene, closely examining the debris that was left behind from the crash.
She told KSAT 12 News off-camera that Rivera had just celebrated his 12th birthday a few days ago.
The relative said at the time of the crash, Rivera and man were on their way home from a cemetery where another family member had been buried.
The 12-year-old’s death is something people in that West Side neighborhood feared might happen. They said street racing in the area has been an ongoing problem.
“I’m just asking the city to do something about it,” said the witness to the crash.
Street racing is outlawed in San Antonio and Texas, and carries penalties that could include hefty fines, a loss of driving privileges and/or the forfeiture of vehicles.
KSAT 12 News sent an email seeking comment about the street racing problem to the office of Councilmember Sukh Kaur, whose district includes that stretch of Culebra Road.
Kaur said that addressing the issue will require “a coordinated, community-wide effort.”
Read her full response below:
"I am heartbroken by the tragic loss of life resulting from an apparent street racing incident in District 1. My thoughts are with the young victim’s family, friends, and all those impacted by this devastating event. We’re also saddened to learn that an innocent bystander was injured, and we extend our sincere wishes for their swift and full recovery. This tragedy underscores a serious public safety concern. Illegal street racing puts lives at risk, disrupts daily life, and far too often ends in irreversible consequences.
“I have been hearing increasing concerns from District 1 residents about illegal street racing and drifting in our neighborhoods. The safety of our community remains my highest priority, and this week’s tragedy underscores the urgency of taking meaningful action.
“Addressing this issue will require a coordinated, community-wide effort. I encourage residents to continue reporting incidents and sharing information with my office so we can better identify and respond to areas where street racing is most prevalent. My office will work closely with the San Antonio Police Department, including District 1 SAFFE Officers, to find effective strategies. As chair of the Public Safety Committee, I am committed to identifying root causes, expanding educational opportunities, and implementing innovative, complete street solutions."
Councilwoman Sukh Kaur, District 1
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