Joseph Brausen: Oregon boy, 12, on his way to play basketball killed after being hit by a car
HILLSBORO, OREGON: A 12-year-old boy tragically lost his life after he was struck while riding his bike in Oregon on Saturday afternoon, February 10, police said. The fatal crash happened at around 4.10 pm local time near Southeast 10th Avenue and Baseline Street in Hillsboro, police said in a statement.
According to NBC-affiliate KGW, CBS-affiliate KOIN and Fox-affiliate KPTV, the boy has been by family identified as Joseph Brausen. Sarah Brausen, Joseph's mother, told KGW and KPTV that her son was headed to play basketball when he was hit. “That’s the only thing he wanted to do in life was be an NBA player,” she said, as per the outlets.
The driver remained at the scene
The driver remained at the scene, and no charges have been announced, police said. An investigation led by the Washington County Crash Analysis Reconstruction Team is ongoing. “All factors are being considered by the investigators and I’m sure you know CART investigations are very thorough and take time,” Hillsboro PD spokesperson Sgt Aaron McCarver told KOIN.
"My son never gets to come home again. It still doesn't feel real," the victim's mother told KGW. His mother also said he was loved by many people. "Everyone who met him fell in love with him," Sarah Brausen said, adding "He was such a such a character. We liked to laugh and joke that he had such a mouthpiece on him. He could band her back-and-forth and everyone really enjoyed that about Joe."
How was Joseph Brausen's mother informed about the crash?
Reflecting on the moments after the crash, Sarah told KGW that she had not heard from her son but was able to track down the location of his phone through the Family Link app. That's when she saw the authorities. "I drove as close as I could to the police tape, and I ran into the police tape, and then his bike was laying there," she told the outlet.
Now the family is honoring him with a memorial at the scene of the crash, as per KGW. They're also hoping that the driveway leading to Starbucks where their youngest of four was struck, can be closed off, according to KPTV.
Joseph Brausen's family friend has launched a GoFundMe to cover the funeral costs
A family friend has also launched a GoFundMe fundraiser for the "unexpected" funeral costs and a loss of work to help "ease the weight of this beautiful family." More than $9,000 has been raised as of Tuesday afternoon, February 13. “I have to bury my baby. Why?” Sarah told KPTV, adding that “he just wanted to ride his bike and go to the park like every other kid.”
