Friends, family members and Santa Clarita citizens showed an outpouring of support Sunday to raise funds to cover funeral expenses for 16-year-old Kimberly Jimenez-Soto, who was struck and killed by a freight train Friday morning in Canyon Country.
Two events were held to raise funds for Jimenez-Soto’s family — a car wash and a food sale.
“She was a sweetheart. she was the most amazing, beautiful girl ever,” said Juliana Georgy, a 15-year-old friend of Jimenez-Soto.
The teen was a junior at Golden Valley High School.
“I miss her smile around me. She was a really good person,” she said. “I wasn’t that close to her but she mean a lot, we lost someone.”
A coroner’s official said Sunday that preliminary reports indicate Jimenez-Soto’s death was a suicide. Homicide officials are still investigating, but they were not available Sunday.
A GoFundMe page was setup to help the family raise funds for the teens funeral.
The food sale held at Canyon Country Park from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. was run by friends and family. The family and friends sold tacos and sodas among other foods.
“We would always go to the movies after school. We would just go to the theater and watch what was playing,” said George Polacmo, a 17-year-old classmate and friend of Jimenez-Soto. “She would come in the middle of the night to talk to me. I was really close with her.”
Many of Jimenez-Soto’s family and close friends did not want to comment and requested privacy.
“She always had a smile on her face,” said 15-year-old classmate Kiera Davis. “She kind of stayed to herself.”
Dozens of community members came to the Canyon Country Park to show their support.
“We’re just here to support. The news came around from friends to friends,” said Felix Garcia. “It s a small Spanish community. We decided why not come over and help. We’re with the Outlaws organization, cheerleading and football. I help (Jimenez-Soto’s aunt) with cooking at the events. We all have kids and we never know when we’ll be next. As a small community, we want to come out and support them and chip in.”
A car wash was held in the parking lot of Pep Boys near Home Depot in Canyon Country, just a couple blocks from where Jimenez-Soto was killed.
Close friends and family washed several cars throughout the day to raise funds for the teen’s funeral.
A close friend of the teen was one of the organizers of the car wash and did not want to comment.
The family plans to host more events to raise money for the teen’s funeral, Garcia said.
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Division officials reported the cause of death as “an apparent suicide” and that she was “standing in front of the train when it struck her,” said Lt. Fred Corral of the Los Angeles County Department of Coroner’s Office.
Jimenez-Soto was struck by a train at 10:20 a.m. Friday, near the corner of Ruether Avenue and Soledad Canyon Road, according to Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station officials.
A memorial was set up next to the train tracks where she was found near Rainbow Glen.
Initial reports indicated Jimenez-Soto’s death might have been accidental, as opposed to a suicide attempt.
Eastbound Soledad Canyon Road at Rainbow Glen was shut down Friday as officials worked around the collision scene.
Homicide Bureau detectives did handling Jimenez-Soto’s case did not immediately respond to a request for a statement.
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15 Comments
Hoping to make it to the next fundraiser, please keep us updated.
Please donate to help cover funeral expenses.
http://www.gofundme.com/KimberlyJimenez?fb_action_ids=10152809298519798&fb_action_types=og.shares
When Is the next fundraiser ?
Kelly Hineson Unger are we having any upcoming fundraisers or is that still in discussion?
We are planning more fundraisers and stuff, we are discussing that today at 3:30 among other things. They will update when the family is ready. Everything is very overwhelming right now. Thank you for your understanding.
Ty Kelly! See you at 3:30… I keep watching the gofundme go higher and higher
We are planning more fundraisers and stuff, we are discussing that today at 3:30 among other things. They will update when the family is ready. Everything is very overwhelming right now. Thank you for your understanding.
Ty Kelly! See you at 3:30… I keep watching the gofundme go higher and higher
She wasn’t standing in front of the train! So many people saw what happened and it was an accident! Stop saying it was a suicide!
She wasn’t standing in front of the train! So many people saw what happened and it was an accident! Stop saying it was a suicide!
I truly believe that people exaggerate in the most unnecessary and hurtful times. Why would you guys report that this was a suicide? Were you there among the kids that did see it ? did you see her do that? PEOPLE her family is going through ENOUGH already. STOP REPORTING WRONG INFORMATION!! Lets let this be a positive thing and enough with the BS! “This fundraiser yesterday was a huge success” How about you report that!
I truly believe that people exaggerate in the most unnecessary and hurtful times. Why would you guys report that this was a suicide? Were you there among the kids that did see it ? did you see her do that? PEOPLE her family is going through ENOUGH already. STOP REPORTING WRONG INFORMATION!! Lets let this be a positive thing and enough with the BS! “This fundraiser yesterday was a huge success” How about you report that!
It was amazing seeing all these young teens and mothers all work hard for this fundraiser!Praying for the family to heal through all the days ahead.It was devastating to hear of such a young life die this way.My heart goes out to her mom&sister.
This is such a fantastic fundraiser, it is awesome to see teens and moms come together for such a great cause.
My husband was the conductor on the train that hit Kimberly. He will never forget that morning for the rest of his life. He is distraught and devastated with the thought that this young girl will never grow up, get married, have children …. experience life. We have a daughter the same age, and can’t imagine the pain her family is feeling. Our hearts go out to Kimberly’s family and friends. You are all in our prayers, continually.