As friends and strangers came out Wednesday night to mourn their loss, the Santa Clara County Coroner positively identified the 15-year-old who died while riding a bicycle to school this week as Ethan Justin Wong of Cupertino.
"It's such a big blow to the community," said Cupertino resident and community activist John Liu, 22, who didn't know the boy. "It's very sad, a tragic event."
He said he stood at the vigil at Monta Vista High School where about 800 people attended to just pay tribute to a life that was snuffed out too quickly. He is trying to find a way to "move on."
Fremont High School Union District spokeswoman Sue Larson said Ethan "was, and is, loved and cherished." The sophomore was an active member of the cross country team and an avid Boy Scout.
Ethan was struck and killed by a dump truck bearing the logo Moonlight Express of Tracy on Monday about 8 a.m. on Bubb and McClellan roads. He attended Monta Vista High School, a few blocks away.
A memorial for Ethan has been growing since his death. Flowers, candles and a sign that read, "Once a matador, always a matador" has been placed at the accident site. The Monta Vista High School's mascot is the matador, and Principal April Scott asked the students to "show our Matador strength. We do it for each other and we do it for Ethan."
Santa Clara County Sheriff Sgt. Kurtis Stenderup said the driver didn't immediately know he had hit the boy, and ended up stopping a short time later after witnesses told him what he had done.
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There has been no announcement of any arrest, and Stenderup said the driver had cooperated. According to the city of Cupertino, McClellan Road is not a designated truck route. However, city officials said in an email, "there are exceptions within the code and specifics of this case are still under investigation."
