Roadside memorial honors Livermore teens killed in crash

The Livermore community continues to mourn three teenage boys who died in a crash with a big-rig on Las Positas Road one week ago.

The three victims have been identified as Rahul Brar, 18; Shej Kumar, 16; and Ian Ericksen, 16 — all Livermore residents.

Brar’s family said on social media that the 18-year-old was driving his cousin Kumar and friend Ericksen home after picking up the pair after their shift ended at a local Baskin-Robbins ice cream store on the night of Dec. 21.

A roadside memorial has been put up in recent days with flowers, balloons, handwritten messages and other items of remembrance at the crash site in eastern Livermore to honor the two high school juniors and recent high school alumnus.

The triple-fatal crash remains under investigation by the Livermore Police Department, but Sgt. Steve Goard provided new details on Monday.

The situation unfolded around 10:30 p.m. Dec. 21 when a semi-truck driver turned into a business driveway in the 5600 block of Las Positas Road but left the trailer stopped blocking the roadway. The eastbound passenger vehicle carrying the three teens then struck the big-rig, according to Goard.

Two of the victims were pronounced dead at the scene while the third occupant succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital, the sergeant said.

Speed and impairment are not considered to be factors at this point, but the investigation is still pending and police have not made a final determination about the cause and probable factors, Goard said. The name of the truck driver has not yet been released publicly.

Ericksen was a junior at Livermore High School, Kumar attended Del Valle Continuation High School, and Brar was an alumnus of Vineyard Alternative High School.

“Let’s keep their families in our minds and hearts, as they have suffered such an unimaginable and heartbreaking loss. Our community’s strength and sheer love will help them through,” Superintendent Kelly Bowers, of the Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District, said in a statement last week.

Brar’s family has started a GoFundMe page to raise funds for funeral and related costs for all three teenagers, vowing to split the money equally among the families. It had generated just over $29,000 as of Monday afternoon.

Investigators continue to actively search for information, and anyone who witnessed the crash or has relevant details about the case can contact Sgt. Justin Lash at Livermore PD, 925-371-4857.

When confirming the victims’ identities, the Alameda County Coroner’s Bureau said Brar’s first name was officially listed as Rahal — though family and other sources have said his first name was Rahul.

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