By Cal State Long Beach business student Bernabe Basurto, 19, died March 18 after being struck by an SUV on the 110 Freeway.
According to California Highway Patrol reports, Basurto had been involved in an accident and was exiting his vehicle to deal with the others involved when the oncoming vehicle hit him.
“A separate vehicle was traveling in the number three lane, approaching the prior traffic collision,” the CHP reported. “The driver changed lanes to the number two lane to avoid hitting the vehicles stopped in the number three lane, and subsequently struck the pedestrian.”
The fatal injury occurred at about 1:40 a.m. on the northbound 110 Freeway, north of Century Boulevard.
Basurto was on his way home after having spent time with a few friends in Long Beach. He lived in the Huntington Park area and commuted to Long Beach.
Victoria Guzman, a liberal studies and sociology major, is a part of Delta Sigma Chi, the same co-ed Hispanic fraternity Basurto had joined. She said Basurto was her blessing. Guzman and Basurto met when they rushed and pledged together in the fall of 2009 and quickly become best friends.
“We became so close in so little time,” Guzman said. “I could count on him for anything and everything. He was the one guy who understood me and the first person I would go to when I needed comfort. He loved life. He loved to dance. He always had a smile on his face … always happy.”
The eldest of five siblings, Basurto had just been hired at Forever 21 after searching for a job in an attempt to help his parents with expenses, including his college tuition.
Basurto dreamt of the day when he would have the chance to wear a cap and gown at his own graduation.
“He never knew what the feeling of being the first in his family to graduate from college felt like,” Guzman said. “We were going to study abroad together, go to Catalina Island this summer and be in each other’s weddings. We had so many exciting plans for our future. I can’t believe this. I don’t want to.”
Guzman is one of many Cal State Long Beach students mourning the death of their friend.
Maricela De La Rosa, 21, an international business major and Basurto’s big sister in Delta Sigma Chi, feels fortunate to have developed a special bond with Basurto.
“There is no doubt in my mind that he will forever be in my heart and in the heart of all my brothers and sisters and of everyone that had the pleasure of meeting and knowing him,” De La Rosa said.
De La Rosa said she had also been driving home on the 110 freeway and passed the car crash without knowing her own “little brother” was the victim.
“Never did it remotely cross my mind that Bernabe, or anyone else I knew for that matter, was involved,” De La Rosa said. “Now he is with God and will forever be looking down upon the people who love him.”
On Monday, Cal State Los Angeles’ HeadSTRONG Association hosted a fundraiser at Round Table on behalf of Basurto.
According to the club’s Facebook page, Basurto had supported many HeadSTRONG functions at CSULA as well as at CSULB.
CSULB’s Delta Sigma Chi has raised more than $6,387 in donations for the Basurto family.
Delta Sigma Chi’s Ingrid Morales, 20, who is also CSULB’s HeadSTRONG treasurer, said the organization’s goal is to raise $20,000.
“Bernabe has been a supporter for HeadSTRONG since our very first active year on campus,” Morales said. “As an organization that is dedicated to promoting positive and mental strength, we wanted to lend a hand and help Bernabe’s family.”
The organization will be holding a fundraiser March 30 at Pick Up Stix, located at 2090 Bellflower Blvd., from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. All proceeds will be donated to the Basurto family to help pay for funeral expenses.
Delta Sigma Chi has also set up a website to raise money online. Donations can be made at gofundme.com/RIP-Bernabe.
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