Kephas Pope Obituary, Death; – A community is in mourning following the tragic death of a Santa Clara University student who was killed while en route to class on Thursday. Funeral arrangements are currently being organized for the victim, identified as 18-year-old Kephas Pope.
The young man was struck by a vehicle near the university campus at the intersection of El Camino Real and Accolti Way shortly before noon, occurring just one day before the Thanksgiving holiday break.
According to a news release from the Santa Clara police, “When officers arrived, they located a male pedestrian on the ground with visible injuries.” The teenager was quickly transported to the hospital, but sadly, he did not survive his injuries.
Authorities reported that the driver remained at the scene and cooperated fully with the investigation. There were no indications of drug or alcohol involvement in the incident.
The Santa Clara County Office of the Medical Examiner-Coroner indicated that Pope was a resident of San Jose. He was a sophomore at Santa Clara University, where his sister is also enrolled, and his father is an alumnus. Pope is being remembered as a bright individual with a warm spirit and a wonderful sense of humor.
A GoFundMe campaign has been established to assist the family with expenses, including funeral costs. His father announced that the service is scheduled for December 2 in Sanger, Fresno County. “All are welcomed, and everyone’s presence will be a great comfort to me,” Nathan Pope expressed while sharing the memorial details.
On the GoFundMe page, a family friend expressed their grief and paid tribute to the young man, stating, “Kephas brought so much joy, warmth, and laughter to us.” The Zhang Family added, “He was such a smart, kind, humorous, and innocent soul who felt like another son and brother to us. We love him dearly and will always cherish his memory.”
