EAST COUNTYEAST COUNTY — A 9-year-old boy was seriously injured and later died after a crash in the El Cajon area last month.
Ashton Burris was crossing Rios Canyon Road near Kelli Lane about 6 p.m. on April 14 when he was struck by a 1991 GMC Sierra headed north, officials said.
The driver, a 76-year-old man, was unable to stop in time to avoid the boy, California Highway Patrol Officer Jared Grieshaber said at the time. Neither alcohol nor drugs was a factor in the crash.
Ashton suffered major injuries and was taken to Rady Children’s Hospital, according to Grieshaber. The boy ed away several days later, his family said in a GoFundMe page. His family chose to donate his organs, saving multiple lives.
“The loss of a child is an unimaginable pain no family should ever endure,” the fundraiser page read. “As Ashton’s loved ones grapple with this profound loss, we want to come together as a community to offer our deepest condolences, love, and during this incredibly difficult time.”
Funds raised would be used to offset funeral expenses and to Ashton’s mother and five brothers and sister, according to the page. More than 130 donations had raised nearly $7,800 as of late Tuesday afternoon.
