Twelve-year-old killed, two other children critically injured crossing street in San Carlos

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East County News Service

Photo courtesy of ECM news partner 10 News

Update 1 p.m., Oct. 21: A GoFundMe has been set up and a vigil will be held Tuesday night at St. Andrew's Lutheran Church

Update 7:30 p.m. Oct. 20:  San Diego Unified School District has identified the boy who died as sixth grader Andrew Olsen. Sixth graders Anne Willows and Jasmine Olsen are recovering from their injuries, according to the district

October 20, 2025 (San Carlos) – Three sixth graders walking to Pershing Middle School were struck by a vehicle on Jackson Drive near Lake Badin Avenue in San Diego’s San Carlos neighborhood this morning.

The three victims, all 12 years old, were taken to Rady Children’s Hospital.  A boy died at the hospital and two girls are hospitalized in critical condition.

According to ABC 10 News, San Diego Police Department Captain Jonathan Lowe said the driver stopped after the crash and rendered medical aid before emergency responders were on the scene. He was not speeding and driving under the influence is not a factor; the driver was not arrested.

An investigation continues and police are asking residents for any surveillance video that may show the crash.

Pershing Middle School sent a letter to students’ families confirming death of a student. “All of us at Pershing are heartbroken by the loss and our thoughts are with the student’s family and loved ones during this very difficult time,” stated the letter, which added that the condition of the injured students was not known.

A GoFundMe account has been set up for the family of the children involved in the crash, including the child who died.

The GoFundMe account started by Amber Zubkov said that the children's father is Corey Willows. Willows, a "a beloved chef at Wild Thyme, is facing an unimaginable loss. Corey is the father of four children, and on their way to school, three of his children were struck by a driver while crossing the street."
 
The GoFundMe page continues: "All three were rushed to the hospital, and tragically, Corey’s son Andrew Olsen passed away from his injuries. The other two children are currently recovering, and Corey was able to be by Andrew’s side to say goodbye.
 
A memorial of bouquets of flowers, stuffed animals, notes and religious candles for the children who were hit by a car, with one killed, continues to grow near the site of the crash. (Photo, right, by Karen Pearlman)
 
"Corey is known at Wild Thyme for his dedication, hard work, and passion for creating amazing food. His absence has left a noticeable gap in our team, and we want to rally around him during this incredibly difficult time. We are raising funds to help cover funeral expenses for Andrew, medical bills for the surviving children, and to provide general support for Corey and his family as they take time to heal.
 
"If you are unable to give financially, we have also set up a meal train to support Corey’s family with food and deliveries. Every message of encouragement and support means a great deal to Corey and his loved ones. Please reach out to Amber at Wild Thyme if you would like to help in other ways. Thank you for standing with Corey and his family."

Additionally, St. Andrew's Lutheran Church is holding a candlelight service of community prayer and lamentation at 7:15 p.m. Tuesday at the church at 8459 Lake Murray Blvd., at the corner of Jackson Drive and Lake Murray Boulevard. The church is opening up its community center starting at 6:45 p.m. Tuesday.


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The children were crossing the road where no marked pedestrian crosswalk was, and near the top of a hill. One witness said that the sun in the drivers eyes could have been a factor. Maybe the drivers vision was limited due to the hill and sun reflection creating a scenario where the pedestrians were not easily visible. Nevertheless, this is a very sad situation. Be very careful when walking across intersections, even in marked crosswalks and a legit signal giving you the right of way, because drivers can often be reckless, or unaware.

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