CROCKETT, Calif. – Authorities have identified the teenager who died after falling from a highway overpass while watching a sideshow early Saturday morning. The Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office confirmed on Monday that the victim was 16-year-old Jose Cuevas, a resident of Harbor City, California, a community near Los Angeles.
The fatal accident happened around 3:30 a.m. Saturday near the Interstate 80 ramps by the Carquinez Bridge. According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), Cuevas climbed over a concrete barrier to get a better view of the illegal car event taking place on the overpass. He then lost his footing and fell about 75 feet to the ground below. Emergency responders pronounced him dead at the scene. Investigators examined the area beneath the bridge to determine exactly how the fall occurred.
The sideshow drew hundreds of spectators and vehicles, creating dangerous conditions. Drone video shared with local news outlets showed cars blocking a large intersection as drivers performed reckless stunts, including spinning donuts. Crowds gathered dangerously close to the vehicles and the edges of the overpass, cheering as the event unfolded. Officials noted that the narrow design of the eastbound and westbound lanes near the bridge created additional hazards for both participants and onlookers.
Though deaths at sideshows are rare, violent and deadly incidents have happened before. Earlier this year, a January sideshow in Oakland turned deadly when gunfire erupted, killing one man and injuring two others. In Crockett, which has only about 3,500 residents and no local police department, residents say sideshows have become a recurring and dangerous problem. Business owner Julia D’Alo said the gatherings make the town feel unsafe, adding that without consistent law enforcement, it is difficult to prevent such events.
The tragedy also hit home for parents in the community. Local father and business owner Stephen Nash said Cuevas’s death felt especially personal because he has two children of his own. He pointed out that teenagers are often influenced by peers and may take risks without fully realizing the dangers. “You think, if they’re out hanging with their friends… they could be influenced. Especially when you’re talking about being on a bridge… falling through a crack,” Nash said, stressing the importance of parental awareness.
In summary, Jose Cuevas, 16, of Harbor City, died after falling from a Crockett overpass while watching a sideshow near Interstate 80. Authorities are investigating the incident as the community mourns and residents call for stronger action against dangerous sideshows that continue to threaten public safety.