Morgan Hill – Standing by the railroad tracks, Victor Sandoval’s friends and family members faced an eerie moment Thursday when a freight train engine breezed by blaring its eerie horn.
The angry engine interrupted a moment of silence for Sandoval, an 18-year-old Morgan Hill man who died Wednesday night on the same set of tracks, by the Morgan Hill Caltrain station on Depot Street between Third and Fourth streets, when he was hit by a northbound train.
The family and friends – there were about 10 of them – were there Thursday afternoon to build a memorial at the spot where Sandoval’s body had come to rest, just west of the tracks. The memorial consisted of three flower bouquets and a 40-ounce bottle of Steel Reserve malt liquor.
It was a telling symbol. Police reported alcohol may have played a role in Sandoval’s death.
“I could have stopped him,” said one of Sandoval’s friends, who briefly returned to the scene of the accident Thursday.
He would not give his name.
The friend said Sandoval grew up in Hollister and recently moved to Morgan Hill, where Sandoval’s mother lives.
“We were right over there in those bushes,” he said, pointing to an area east of a pedestrian path that crosses the tracks, allowing Caltrain commuters access to the loading platform. “He walked right out in front of the train.”
Asked to describe Sandoval, his friend said he had been an extremely gracious young man who hoped to become a firefighter. He was a friend to all who knew him, the friend said before disappearing on his bike.
The family members at the tracks, who said they were from Hollister, described Sandoval as a “good brother” and a close member of the family.
They identified themselves as the Camacho family, from Hollister. Sandoval is survived by three brothers and four sisters, among others, they said, living in Hollister.
For some period of time Sandoval attended San Benito High School in Hollister.
A number of students at Central Continuation High School in Morgan Hill were shocked by Sandoval’s death, said principal Irene Macias-Morriss.
A grief counselor was called in Thursday morning, she said.
Sandoval’s uncle, also from Hollister, described him as a good kid who “just liked to have fun.” He was at the accident scene honoring his nephew’s memory.
One of Sandoval’s sisters, who declined to be identified, said Sandoval had recently moved to Morgan Hill to live with his mother. He had moved to Morgan Hill a few months ago, the sister said, to live with his mother.
Sandoval’s mother could not be reached for comment Thursday.
Tony Burchyns covers Morgan Hill for The Times. Reach him at (408) 779-4106 ext. 201 or tburchyns@morganhilltimes.
