SAN RAFAEL (KRON) — A 17-year-old jogger has died from injuries she got after being struck by a minivan while on a jog, according to San Rafael police on Wednesday.
Police say they received a call shortly after 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday about a person lying on the road at Point San Pedro Road near Manderly Road. Officers arrived on the scene to find the teenage victim suffering from major injuries.
She has been identified as 17-year-old Aura Celeste Machado.
Machado was a junior at San Rafael High School.
Investigators say she was apparently jogging westbound on the sidewalk of Point San Pedro Road when she tried to navigate around a tree that had recently fallen and was blocking her path. They say it appears that the Machado left the sidewalk onto the roadway, and that’s when she was struck by a minivan that was traveling westbound on the road.
The minivan driver, a 69-year-old San Rafael man, stopped and cooperated with the investigation, police said. He had consumed an alcoholic beverage but his blood-alcohol level was 0.02 percent, well below the 0.08 percent level considered legally intoxicated, police said.
San Rafael High School principal Glenn Dennis said the school was notified over the weekend that Machado had died.
Police said Machado’s parents decided to end life support after consulting with doctors.
School officials shared the family’s message with students at school Monday and grief counselors were made available.
“Some of you may remember Celeste for her laughter, others may remember her brightness or her beauty. We will remember her for all these things and more” her family said in the message.
Donations to the family may be sent to Josh Nagler, c/o Cats Paw Bookkeeping, 119 Laverne Ave., Mill Valley, CA 94941.
School officials said students will be informed of a memorial service when plans are finalized.