Boy killed in hit-and-run crash in SLO County is identified. Here’s how to help his family
The boy killed in a fatal hit-and-run crash in Atascadero on Friday has been identified as 11-year-old José Gutiérrez — and his family needs your help.
Family and community members identified the boy on social media Saturday amid pleas for donations to the Gutierrez Orozco family to help them pay to transport José’s body to Mexico.
“We are raising funds for our late son, who was injured in an accident yesterday afternoon,” family member Gabriela Gutiérrez said in a GoFundMe on Saturday. “He will be transported to Mexico, which is the cost. Anything you would like to donate will be a huge help. Thank you! God will reward you!”
A family member also confirmed José’s identity to The Tribune on Saturday as mourners gathered at a makeshift memorial on El Camino Real.
According to police, that was where emergency services personnel found the 11-year-old after a pickup truck veered off the roadway and struck him from behind. He died from his injuries at the scene.
Police then launched a search for the person who hit him.
With the help of “community-provided video footage,” officers located a 2003 Ford F-150 that was believed to be the suspect’s vehicle and which had been abandoned behind an apartment building several blocks from the scene.
On Saturday afternoon, the Police Department announced it had charged Zachary Bernal, 31, of Atascadero, in connection with the fatal hit-and-run crash.
The agency said Bernal is expected to be charged with vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and felony hit-and-run resulting in death or injury.
Investigation into the incident is still ongoing.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Police Department at 805-461-5051 or its detective bureau at 805-470-3252.
For anonymous tips, call San Luis Obispo Crime Stoppers at 805-549-STOP.
How to donate to family of boy killed in hit and run
In the wake of the fatal crash, Atascadero community members flocked to show their support for José’s family in their time of need.
Longtime Atascadero resident Ty Murray stopped by the roadside memorial with his 11-year-old grandson Talon Doughty on Saturday to pay their respects.
“I just felt really bad,” Murray said when asked why he came by. “I can’t imagine the heartbreak that the parents must be going through right now.”
Talon said he went to school and played soccer with the boy.
“He was in some of my classes. We always played soccer together with this little friend group of eight, maybe nine people.” Talon said. “(He was a) really kind kid, (but) we always kind of played, like, dirty in soccer. It was fun.”
A vigil was also held for José at Paloma Creek High School in Atascadero on Saturday evening.
As of Sunday morning, the GoFundMe for Jose’s family had raised $21,492 — significantly above its initial $12,000 goal. The 409 donations ranged from $10 to several as high as $500.
Further donations to the GoFundMe were not being taken as of Sunday at 10 a.m.
Community members did share other ways of helping the family.
In a public Facebook post Saturday night, Savannah Williamson wrote that donations could be sent directly to the family via Venmo; those funds would go to pay for airplane tickets for the family to attend services in Mexico, as well as support them while they have to take time off from work, she wrote.
To donate, you can send money directly to Jose’s mother, Maria Orozco, at @coniorozco on Venmo.
For more information, contact the family’s designated advocate, Sonia Greene, at 805-674-3827.
Greene is also coordinating food and meal donations for the family.
“Thank you so much for your consideration for this dear family who is deeply mourning during this difficult time,” Williamson wrote.
Family representative warns of fundraiser scam
Meanwhile, at least one fake GoFundMe page appeared to have been created in an attempt to “steal donations,” from the Gutiérrez family, Greene told The Tribune on Monday.
According to a Facebook post by Williamson in the private Everything Atascadero group, a fake fundraiser was set up by a person posing as Jose’s older sister. Williamson said she confirmed with the family that the page was a scam.
The page appears to use the picture of Jose from the Gutiérrez family’s real GoFundMe and asks for donations to “lay him to rest and send him to Mexico.”
As of 11 a.m. Monday morning, the page was still up and had garnered $1,405 in donations.
Williamson recommended anyone who donated to request a refund and report the page as a scam.
“Absolutely deplorable,” Williamson wrote in her post.
A request for comment on possible fundraising scams was not returned by the Atascadero Police Department as of early Monday afternoon.
This story was originally published March 16, 2025 at 11:00 AM.
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