Delano is mourning one of its own after Ivan Garza, a 25-year-old former Sacramento State offensive lineman and hometown native, was killed yesterday when he was struck by a vehicle, family members said. Garza, a regular starter for the Hornets through the 2023 season, was remembered by teammates and coaches as word of his death spread through the Central Valley, prompting a wave of online tributes and a community fundraiser.
According to CBS Sacramento, Sacramento State Football posted that we give our deepest condolences to Ivan's friends and family and that he will be remembered as a wonderful teammate, player, and Hornet. Family members told the outlet Garza died Wednesday after the crash; CBS reported he was 25.
College career and background
Per Sacramento State athletics, Garza redshirted in 2019 and missed the 2020 season because of pandemic cancellations. He then appeared for the Hornets from 2021 through 2023, starting all 13 games in both 2022 and 2023. The team's bio notes he earned honorable-mention All-Big Sky honors in 2023 and was a standout at Robert F. Kennedy High School in Delano.
Family fundraiser and local response
Garza's family has launched a memorial fundraiser to help them through the loss. A GoFundMe organized by Sonia Garza says Ivan was taken from us in a hit-and-run accident yesterday, and asks for help with funeral costs. The page had raised $6,805 of a $9,000 goal from dozens of donors in its first day, according to the GoFundMe listing.
Legal note
If investigators determine a driver fled the scene, California law treats leaving the scene of a crash that causes injury or death as a serious offense. Under California Legislature records for Vehicle Code Section 20001, drivers are required to stop and render aid, and violations can be charged as a felony. Officials have not released detailed information about any ongoing investigation into the Delano collision in the initial reports.
Teammates and former coaches have posted condolences online, recalling Garza's imposing size on the field and his steady presence off it. Memorial arrangements beyond the family fundraiser have not yet been announced.
