SANTA CLARA, Calif. – A student from Santa Clara University died while crossing the street near the school. His family asked city leaders to make the area safer.
Last Thursday, Kephas Pope was killed on El Camino Real in Santa Clara. It was only a few steps from his home and school.
He would cross the street three times a day, going both ways, said Nathan Pope, his father. He pointed to the spot where his son crosses the street every day.
Pope couldn’t figure out how his son could have been killed in front of their apartment building.
In his second year at Santa Clara University, the 18-year-old was crossing the street to get to class.
Pope said, “My whole body feels numb.” “It’s very hard to say how I feel now.”
Thursday at noon, Pope said Kephas was riding his bike across El Camino Real and stopping in the middle of the road to let oncoming cars go by.
Dad said the driver of a dark-colored BMW who hit a tree in the middle lane was probably going too fast. The impact threw the tree into the air, where it hit Kephas in the head.
At the hospital, they said he was dead.
Pope said his son was getting ready for a race and getting straight A’s in school as a biochemist major.
He wished to become a doctor.
“He was making plans for the future.” Which is why it’s so sad. “He was so focused on the future,” Pope said.
Dad told KTVU about the text messages he sent and received with his son right before he died.
The texts were about getting movie tickets for the dad and the son to see “Gladiator 2.”
There will never be any plans for the weekend or the future.
“I’ve been screaming, yelling, and crying. I’m mostly just lonely right now. Pope said, “I miss him.”
Police said it doesn’t look like drugs or alcohol played a part in this case.
Investigators said the driver stayed at the spot and helped them out.
The event is still being looked into by the police.
Pope said that on December 8 at 7:30 p.m., staff at Santa Clara University will hold a vigil for him on campus, outside of Mission Church.
