Jose “Joey” Rodriguez, 17, dies after Spurs celebration fall

Key Points:

• Jose “Joey” Rodriguez, a 17-year-old from San Antonio, died after suffering a catastrophic brain injury from falling out of a vehicle during a Spurs honking celebration; his family removed him from life support less than a week after the incident.
• Rodriguez was declared brain dead on Monday, and despite his family hoping for a miracle, they decided to end life support on Tuesday afternoon; he was remembered as a hardworking, optimistic student with a bright future.
• The injury occurred when Rodriguez was sitting on a car window during the celebration and fell after the vehicle hit a curb, causing severe head trauma; friends initially took him to a clinic where he had no pulse for eight minutes before transfer to a trauma center.
• Spurs honking celebrations, a tradition dating back to 1999, have recently resurged with increased enthusiasm but have also raised safety concerns, prompting police to increase patrols and urge fans to celebrate responsibly.
• San Antonio Police Department described Rodriguez’s injuries as tragic and preventable, emphasizing the importance of following traffic laws and safety directions during celebrations to avoid similar incidents.