A young man, just a few days shy of his 20th birthday, was tragically struck and killed by a suspected drunk driver at a bus stop in California. The incident involved 19-year-old Ricky Ray Reyes Jr., who was pronounced dead at the scene after an unidentified driver veered off the road and hit him, according to the Sacramento Police Department.
Reyes, who worked at a deli and had been involved in junior ROTC, had recently completed tours at a local trade school. He dedicated his weekends to the Army National Guard Base in Sacramento. His loved ones have expressed their grief and have raised over $22,000 on GoFundMe in his memory.
“My son was much better than me,” said his father, Ricky Reyes Sr., who shared that his son had a talent for making sandwiches and had a beautiful soul filled with love and compassion.
The young man’s life was cut short just days before he turned 20. Shortly after the collision, the driver, who has not yet been named, was taken to a nearby hospital because of injuries sustained during the crash.
This individual has since been arrested and remains hospitalized, according to police reports.
Reyes’ death marks the 97th traffic-related fatality in Sacramento County this year. Isaac Gonzalez, founder of Slowdown Sacramento, remarked on the situation, calling it “absolutely heartbreaking.” He pointed out that the statistics reveal a systemic issue, with specific areas experiencing clusters of accidents.
In response, city officials are investigating crash sites in hopes of finding solutions to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
