Boy Dies, Girl Seriously Hurt After Being Struck by Car While Waiting in Median of Calif. Highway

The children's mother said they were on their way to a Super Bowl party in Sacramento when a tire blew on her vehicle, leaving it disabled in the fast lane of Highway 50

A boy was killed and a girl was seriously injured Sunday when they were hit by a car while waiting in the center median of a California highway after their mother's car became disabled.

California Highway Patrol said the 8-year-old boy and 9-year-old girl were passengers in a Toyota that became disabled in the fast lane of Highway 50 in Sacramento, according to NBC affiliate KCRA-TV and FOX affiliate KTXL.

The children’s mother, Yari Quirarte, said she and her kids were traveling from Rancho Cordova to a Super Bowl party in Sacramento when a tire blew on her vehicle, KCRA-TC and CBS affiliate KOVR reported.

The two children were in the center median around 4:30 p.m. local time when a Ford attempted to avoid hitting the Toyota and swerved into the same area where the children were, CHP said, per the reports.

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The boy, identified by his mother as Alex Cooper, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, according to KOVR.

Quirarte said her daughter Jasmine was hospitalized with two broken legs and underwent surgery on Monday.

The “extensive surgery” spanned several hours, “during which dedicated doctors worked tirelessly to reset her broken bones and secure them with pins,” according to GoFundMe organizers Sandra Moreno and Julie White.

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CHP did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

Quirarte had removed both children from her car Sunday afternoon out of concern for their safety on the busy highway, per KCRA-TV.

The mom then placed her children behind construction barriers that lined the median. “I thought it would be safe for us to stand there at least while I wait for help," Quirarte said.

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Alex, who died on impact, was someone who regularly made others laugh. The second grade student was often “the sunshine of peoples' bad days,” according to his mom.

“I want people to remember him as just a curious little boy, that he was happy,” said Quirarte, per KCRA-TV.

As of Wednesday morning, more than $5,000 has been raised via online fundraisers for the children’s family in wake of Sunday’s crash.

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