Community mourns 11 year-old Hollister boy killed by county bus

A little boy with a big heart – that’s how close friends and family describe 11-year-old Joshua Rodriguez.

On Wednesday, at the Hollister Farmers Market on San Benito Street the community came together for a fundraiser to help the Rodriguez”s family. Volunteers sold everything from sodas to donated goods.

“When I found out what happened, I just started crying and went straight to the hospital. And I found out he was actually gone. It was sad,” Cody Cordova, Joshua’s best friend said.

Cordova said they were together the night before Josh was killed. That’s a day Cody’s mom, Sheila Cordova, said she will never forget.

“It hurts me to see him because when he asked me he goes ‘Mom, what do I do? I lost my best friend. What am I going to do now?'” Sheila Cordova said.

Police said that just after 4 p.m. on Monday,Joshua was hit by a county bus at the intersection of Memorial Drive and Verdun Avenue. He died at the hospital. The crash was near the skate park whereCody and Joshua spent many hours together.

“I told my son (and) he goes ‘I don’t want to go to the skate park anymore, Mom.’ I said ‘you know what? I don’t think Josh would want that. I think Josh would want you to go,'” Cordova said.

Fundraising events have popped up all over the city. Next Tuesday August 4th, the Hollister Domino’s Pizza is donating all of its proceeds earned that day to the Rodriquez family.

“He was, like, the most lovable person you could ever know. If you were with him, if he was mad or sad, he would still be, like, happy. He would always help people out. We could trust him with anything,” Cody Cordova said.

Hollister police are still investigating how the crash happened. No arrests have been made. Witnesses said the bus driver jumped out to try and help Josh. The driver has not been charged.