LATHROP – The youngest son of a Lathrop Elementary School teacher has been identified as the victim in the minivan-versus-bicycle accident that occurred early Monday evening at the crosswalk on O Street and South Matador Way.

The young boy was flown by Medi-flight to UC Davis Medical Center. His condition was not available as of press time.

Other details such as the identity of the driver were unavailable as of deadline.

However, there were reportedly many witnesses to the incident.

“There was a whole football field of witnesses,” said Rosalinda Valencia who lives nearby.

She was not there when the accident happened, but she was there soon after and saw the mangled bicycle still on the road and the suspected driver being interviewed by police. Valencia said the accident occurred around 5 p.m. while the Lathrop Steelers, a football team, were practicing in the field behind the school. A back gate from the field exits to the crosswalk on O Street and Matador Way.

Describing the accident scene that she saw, Valencia said, “The bike looked like it was on the crosswalk and was knocked out from the crosswalk. The seat was knocked off the bike.”

It also appeared that the minivan was going west on O Street.

She also saw at least “two kids popping in and out of the car” involved in the accident while the police interviewed the suspected driver.

Valencia said she did not know whether the young boy was wearing a helmet. However, she said that the boy’s father, Lathrop School teacher Brian Jex, was at the school at the time “helping set up the library.”

Valencia added that the Medi-flight helicopter did not land in the field behind the main Lathrop School on Fifth Street but in the larger field behind the Lathrop School Annex on Thomsen Street. She also did not see if an ambulance transported the victim from O Street to the annex school field.
Valencia, who has children of her own at Lathrop School and is active in the Parent Teacher Club, said she has talked to the PTC president about ways that the organization can help the family.

“PTC will figure out what to do to help the family,” she said.

The young victim was described as the youngest of the three children of Lathrop School teacher Brian Jex and his wife.

To contact Rose Albano Risso, e-mail ralbanorisso@mantecabulletin.com or call (209) 249-3536.