Cal student still critical after crash, GoFundMe underway
Before the crash, Lucas Benitez was studying molecular environmental biology at Cal with an interest in veterinary medicine.
A 19-year-old Cal student remains in critical but stable condition this week after sustaining a traumatic brain injury in a recent crash in Berkeley.
A GoFundMe campaign to help Lucas Benitez and his family has raised nearly $84,000 of its $100,000 goal.
"Every parent’s worst fear is an injured child," family friends wrote on GoFundMe. "Receiving a phone call telling you that your child has been in an accident and requires emergency surgery, is inconceivable. But such heartbreaking circumstances are the current reality that has placed an immense emotional strain on our dear friends, Christian and Debbie Benitez."
Benitez, who is from Pasadena, reportedly lost control and fell off his electric skateboard in late January and hit his head while crossing Ellsworth Street on Blake Street, according to the preliminary investigation.
Police said he was not wearing a helmet at the time of the solo crash.
Two passers-by pulled Benitez out of the intersection and helped collect his scattered property from the street as first responders arrived.
According to his LinkedIn page, Benitez graduated from Loyola High School of Los Angeles in 2023 where he was a youth leader in the Office of Equity and Inclusion, the philanthropy chair of the Filipino Club and a soccer player for all four years.
Before the crash, he was studying molecular environmental biology at Cal with an interest in veterinary medicine.
His fraternity, Phi Kappa Sigma, wrote about him in the fall, noting he "one day wants to be a vet, so if you’re in need of any pet help, he’s your guy 😏 LB also enjoys a nice sunset on a nice 9 mile run to the marina. But when he’s lazy you might catch him playing his ukulele in his apartment balcony."
On GoFundMe, Benitez was described as kind, respectful and funny.
"He loves life and always sees the silver lining in everything," the GoFundMe organizers wrote. "Always positive and supportive. His smile and hugs are genuine LOVE."
(The Scanner has been unable to reach the organizers to date.)
The money raised from the GoFundMe campaign will go toward Benitez's ongoing treatment as well as his family's travel expenses between their home and the UCLA Medical Center.
"Whether you’re able to donate, share this fundraising campaign, or simply send prayers, let’s do what this community does best and help," they wrote. "Let our collective prayers help them to trust in God’s promises and not be swayed by fear or doubt."
Read more about local GoFundMe campaigns in past Scanner coverage.
