OAKLEY, CA : Teenage bicyclist killed in traffic collision on Sunday, 4th September 2016

After fighting chronic kidney disease his whole life and finding himself in Stage 4 renal failure this summer, 14-year-old Kaleb Vancil found a donor his mom.

Next month, Gina Vancil would donate one of her kidneys to her middle schooler. Years of surgeries, doctors visits and uncertainty would final have a happy ending, the family rejoiced in its medical blog detailing Kaleb's journey.

Instead, on Sunday night, as Kaleb biked home from playing with friends, a car struck and killed him, just two blocks from his Oakley home, devastating his family, friends and a community still healing after another fatal vehicle-pedestrian accident involving an Oakley student this summer.

"It's awful. Time and again, it seems like Oakley faces these tragedies and it rises above. But it's hard," said Steve Amaro, athletic director at Freedom High School where Kaleb's mother coached boys water polo. "You can never prepare for a tragedy. We've lost one of our own."

At about 8:15 p.m. Sunday, at Big Break Road and Vintage Parkway, Kaleb was riding northbound on the sidewalk, while a vehicle was traveling the same direction. The boy left the sidewalk to go around pedestrians and was struck by the vehicle, police said.

An air ambulance transported the boy to UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital in Oakland, where he died Monday morning. The driver of the vehicle has cooperated with police and alcohol or drugs do not appear to have been a factor in the collision, city officials said.

"We are saddened to report that the young man involved in the traffic collision last night has passed away," the city posted on its Facebook page Monday. "His family was with him when he passed and school district officials have been notified. Our deepest sympathies and prayers go out to the family."

Kaleb died in the same Oakland hospital where he was first diagnosed at five months old with having urine issues that caused it back up into his bladder. As a preschooler he learned it also backed up into his kidneys and caused irreparable damage, according to the family's blog. Despite his failing kidneys, taking an assortment of medicine, Kaleb stayed active, particularly when it came to water polo.

Nick Araujo, who coached Kaleb on the Oakwood Water Polo club the last two seasons, had a difficult time composing himself and describing his player who persevered despite the lethargy caused from his failing kidneys.

"He would train on the nights he felt good enough to push himself," Araujo said. "He knew himself all too well and could always tell when he was not up to it ... Whether it was a good day or a down day, his attitude never waned."

As word spread Labor Day, mourners left flowers and candles at the sight of the collision.

Friend Caleb Pacat, 13, of Oakley, said he went fishing and crabbing at the Oakley shoreline down the street with Kaleb on Saturday, and the friends caught a couple fish.

"He was a jokester, a happy kid," Caleb said. "He always made other people smile."

He skateboarded too -- mostly at Creekside Park.

Kaleb was a regular at the Freedom High School pool where his mother Gina coached the boy's varsity and junior varsity water polo teams.

"Her kids are a fixture on the pool deck. He was always with his mom," said Amaro. "Aquatics is definitely something that runs in that family."

On Thursday, Freedom High hosted Napa boy's water polo and Amaro saw Kaleb helping his mother set up for the game with his sister.

"If his mom was there, he was there to help," Amaro said.

Freedom High Principal Kelly Manke said she remembered Kaleb as Freedom High's unofficial water polo mascot.

"We're concerned about their family and we want to make sure they have everything they need," Manke said. "And we want to support the water polo team."

Oakley Union Elementary School District Superintendent Greg Hetrick offered his condolences to the family.

"There really aren't words that others or I can say when a student loses their life," Hetrick said. "As a district, we are greatly saddened and our hearts go out to the family. We are unfortunately reminded of how what life throws at us can be tragic. We are committed to doing everything we can to support everyone in navigating through this horrible time."

In June, 15-year-old Roshel Madlangbayan and her 16-year-old friend were struck by a car head-on while walking along East Cypress Road in Oakley. Madlangbayan died and her friend was critically injured, but Manke said she has since returned to classes at Freedom High.

In that collision, Kristina Salvitti, 50, of Walnut Creek, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and vehicular manslaughter.

As the community deals with another child's death, Amaro said the athletic teams will hold a moment of silence at their next games.

Source :
http://www.eastbaytimes.com/breaking-news/ci_30329973/oakley-cyclist-injured-traffic-collision