Overview
- The teen fell from a vehicle during postgame honking celebrations on the South Side and was taken in critical condition to a trauma center after first being treated at a local emergency room, according to San Antonio police and local reports.
- Family members identified him as Jose “Joey” Rodriguez and say he suffered severe head trauma after a vehicle hit a curb and he struck the pavement, with friends reporting he had no pulse for several minutes before transfer to the hospital.
- Some news outlets citing a police source reported that doctors declared the teenager brain dead, while the family and other local reports say he remains on life support and doctors discussed withdrawing care, creating a developing and conflicting picture of his condition.
- The San Antonio Police Department called the incident tragic and preventable, opened an investigation, and said it has increased patrols and urged fans to stay inside vehicles and follow traffic laws and officers’ directions.
- The fall occurred as long-standing Spurs ‘honking’ car-parade traditions returned with renewed intensity during the postseason, and authorities and community members warn the incident could prompt tighter enforcement and changes to how the city manages large celebrations ahead of the NBA Finals.