San Jose State postpones game after running back from L.A. is struck, killed by bus
San Jose State’s football team, including several players from the L.A. area, won a season-opening game on Saturday afternoon in San Francisco on a controversial field goal.
The team was hosting Fresno State when it was hit by a bus and two more players were injured on the way to the locker room.
The game was postponed for the night because of the injuries suffered by several players from the L.A. area – who were on the bus that hit the Spartans as they were trying to return to their hotel after playing to a 7-0 first-quarter lead.
A statement from head coach Ron Caragher said “safety of the team, players and the community is paramount and we will continue to monitor the situation through the night.”
San Jose State played the game as scheduled against the Bulldogs at Kezar Stadium later in the evening.
SJSU players took to social media to express their feelings on the accident and have been posting their thoughts on Twitter and Facebook.
Many messages expressed their frustration over the play that killed running back Jakhon Hilliard. He was a standout at San Jose State for two years who was from Sacramento.
Hilliard was on the team’s team bus about 15 minutes before the accident occurred.
One player responded to a tweet by saying “I bet you miss his ass so much that you didn’t show him all of your love.”
Others said “our hearts are breaking” and “We can’t get out of this bed without crying.”
On Facebook, several more players posted photos of cars driving toward the team bus with the words “SJSU bus strike” on their windshields.
Caragher described the accident as an “unthinkable tragedy” in a statement.
Players said the bus driver did not stop the bus as they were returning after playing.
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