​Ivan Garza, a former college football standout for the Sacramento State Hornets, has died after being struck by a vehicle. The 25-year-old was hit while crossing a street in his hometown of Delano, California, in the early hours of Wednesday, July 8. “Nobody knows such a big guy with such a big heart,” his aunt, Sonia Garza, said in a tribute.
Garza’s family confirmed the news of his death, with Delano Police Department officers responding to reports of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle in Delano shortly after 4 a.m. local time on Wednesday, July 8, according to CBS News. It is believed the vehicle was traveling northbound when it struck Ivan as he crossed the road. The driver remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators. The Delano Police Department has not immediately responded to PEOPLE’s requests for comment as they continue their investigation into the collision.
Garza’s family launched a GoFundMe fundraiser to share their memories and support his loved ones, describing him as “a gentle giant with a kind heart, an infectious smile, and a genuine love for his family, friends, teammates, and everyone fortunate enough to know him.” His aunt, Sonia Garza, told CBS affiliate KBAK, “Nobody knows such a big guy with such a big heart… He was a great mentor to everybody. He was a big guy, so everybody automatically looked up to him. And then when they saw that he was good, they looked up to him even more.”
During his time at Sacramento State, Garza played as an offensive lineman from 2021 to 2023, after redshirting in 2019 and having the 2020 season canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to his Sac State biography. He earned honorable mention All-Big Sky in 2023 after starting all 13 games for the Hornets. Sacramento State Football issued a tribute on Instagram, calling him a “wonderful teammate, player, and Hornet,” and offering condolences to his family and friends. Former Sac State coach Cherokee Valeria described him as an “amazing young man” in a comment on the post.
Prior to his college career, Garza attended Robert F. Kennedy High School in Delano, where he helped the Thunderbirds win a Central Section Championship, according to the GoFundMe page. RFK and Delano have since paid their respects, with the school posting, “He was a success story out of RFK and Delano as a whole. He showed that big things can come from small places. His heart was as huge as his size. Rest easy, young man, you are at peace.” RFK’s head football coach Mario Millan told KBAK, “Ivan was one of the stewards of our program. He was a phenomenal student, a phenomenal athlete,” though the rest of his interview was not included here.
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