Tragic Pedestrian Accident Claims Life of Expecting Mother

San Antonio — A pregnant mother of three, Jeanette Espitia, was struck and killed while crossing a street late the evening of August 21, leaving her brother to care for her children and prompting community support to cover immediate needs and funeral costs.

What happened

The collision occurred around 10:30 p.m. on August 21 near the intersection of SE Military Drive and Old Corpus Christi Road. Jeanette Espitia, who was approximately eight months pregnant, was pushing a stroller with her one-year-old daughter when she attempted to cross the street outside of a marked crosswalk and was hit by a vehicle. The driver stopped and rendered aid. The one-year-old child was not physically injured at the scene, but Jeanette and her unborn son later died at the hospital.

Immediate aftermath and family impact

Jeanette was identified by her brother, Jesse Espitia. She is survived by three children: a 10-year-old son, a 4-year-old daughter, and the one-year-old daughter who was in the stroller during the crash. The unborn child, a boy who the family intended to name after a sibling who died previously, was eight months along and did not survive. Jesse, left grieving and without immediate family members, has taken responsibility for the care of the three surviving children and faces financial strain as a result of the loss.

Community response

Local residents and business owners mobilized quickly to help the family. A local business owner organized support efforts, paid for funeral expenses, and raised funds aimed at preventing an eviction that would have affected Jesse and the children. A GoFundMe campaign was established to collect additional donations to assist with ongoing needs for the children and household expenses.

Safety concerns and calls for change

Neighbors described the stretch of Southeast Military Drive where the crash occurred as dangerous and cited prior accidents in the area. Community members and the victim’s family called for improved pedestrian safety measures at or near the location of the collision, including safer crossing options and traffic-calming features to reduce the risk of similar incidents.

Supporting details

• The mother had boarded a bus earlier to purchase diapers for her one-year-old daughter prior to the collision.
• The driver stopped at the scene and provided assistance after the impact.
• Local support included direct payment of funeral costs and fundraising to prevent eviction for the grieving family.
• A public online fundraiser has been set up to centralize donations for the children’s needs.

Broader context

The case highlights ongoing concerns about pedestrian safety in parts of San Antonio where crossings, lighting, and traffic management may not meet the needs of residents. Incidents involving pedestrians outside marked crosswalks often result in complex legal, safety, and community responses, and this fatal collision has renewed calls from neighbors for municipal action to review and improve conditions on Southeast Military Drive.

Next steps for the family

Jesse Espitia has stated he intends to provide full-time care for his late sister’s three children. Immediate efforts by community members aim to stabilize housing and cover funeral costs. Longer-term needs include financial support for daily living, childcare, schooling, and counseling for the children as they cope with the loss of their mother and unborn sibling.