The College of San Mateo football community is absolutely reeling right now, heartbroken by the loss of 19-year-old Ja’Marion Grace, who was killed in a brutal car crash early Sunday morning on Highway 101 in San Jose. This is the kind of news that just guts you, a promising young life taken way too soon, and it’s hitting everyone who knew “Pop” incredibly hard.
The Unspeakable Tragedy on Highway 101
This nightmare unfolded fast. According to the California Highway Patrol, the crash happened on northbound Highway 101 near Yerba Buena Road. Officers said the driver of a 2013 Ford Fusion lost control, a detail that’s just chilling to hear. Grace, who was a passenger in that car, was ejected from the vehicle. His mother, Ashley Grant, shared the agonizing details of how she found out. She woke up to a barrage of calls and texts, the kind that make your heart drop, before learning the unthinkable. She and Grace’s dad had to call the coroner, describe their son, and then they got the confirmation nobody ever wants to hear. It’s just devastating, trying to imagine that call.
“Pop” Had a Gift For Connecting With Everyone
Ja’Marion, known as “Pop” to his friends and “Mar” to his mother, grew up in Vallejo before moving to Fairfield for high school. His family still wears sweatshirts made for his senior night football game, a testament to how much he meant to them and his teammates. The College of San Mateo football team honored him in a social media post that perfectly captured the sentiment, saying, “Pop gave everything he had each and every day. Fly high, Pop. We love you.” His mother echoed that sentiment, saying her son had this incredible gift for connecting with people. “He knew how to keep a smile on people’s face. People just gravitated towards him. Kids love him,” Grant said. His grandmother, Felicia Brown, summed up the family’s immense pain, simply stating, “That was our baby, and we loved him, and we’re like, he’s gonna be truly, truly missed from everyone.” The last contact his mom had with him was Saturday night, just hours before the crash, when he texted asking for a few dollars. She sent it, and he replied, “Thank you Mom,” with hearts. It’s a gut-wrenching reminder of how quickly life can change.
CHP officers are still trying to piece together exactly what happened, and it’s unknown if the driver was under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time. They are asking anyone who witnessed the accident to come forward. The community is already rallying, and a GoFundMe has been started to help cover Ja’Marion’s funeral costs. In times like these, we gotta come together, support the family, and make sure they feel every ounce of love from the community “Pop” touched.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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