Grandmother killed by bicyclist in San Jose park mourned

(KRON) — A 75-year-old grandmother was exercising at Hillview Park in East San Jose when a bicyclist crashed into her, according to family members and investigators.

“On August 27, our mother’s life changed in an instant. What began as her usual evening walk in the park ended in tragedy when she was struck and knocked down by an inebriated man on a bicycle at Hillview Park,” a GoFundMe page created by the victim’s children states.

The grandmother, identified by the page as Adela, clung to life for days in a hospital before she died September 2 from her head injuries, her family said.

According to the San Jose Police Department, the bicyclist was arrested on suspicion of DUI and being under the influence of drugs.

Adela is remembered for her spirit of “quiet resilience,” family members said. She survived undergoing chemotherapy treatment for cancer in 2003. “She’s always been small in stature, but mighty in spirit — fiercely independent and deeply committed to living fully for her family and the Lord,” the page states.

SJPD said the bicyclist and the victim were both heading westbound on Ocala Avenue when the fatal incident happened. Police said the vintage road bicycle that struck the victim was a blue 16-speed Centurion.

The bicyclist was booked into a Santa Clara County jail on suspicion of DUI on a bicycle causing injury. He was also booked for being under the influence of a controlled substance, police said.

The grandmother’s children wrote, “Our hearts are shattered, and the thought of life without her feels unimaginable.” The page has raised $11,000 in donations for end-of-life expenses and legal costs related to her passing.

Adela’s death was San Jose’s 13th pedestrian fatality of 2025.