As the San Jose State University community continues to mourn the loss of freshman football player Camdan McWright, his parents spoke publicly Tuesday, saying he was "the light of all of our lives."
"Such a loving and kind perfect child," said Tina McWright, Camdan's mother. "Cam dug deep and fought even harder to find the skill of really learning how to balance school and sports at such a young age."
Camdan, 18, died last Friday when he was struck by a school bus while he was riding a scooter near the San Jose State campus. The collision happened at about 6:50 a.m. in the area of South 10th and East Reed streets, officials said.
"Camdan was a very special type of son anyone would be proud to have," said Cleve McWright, Camdan's father.
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Cleve and Tina said they had just visited their son a few weeks ago. Right before they dropped him off at study hall, Cleve stopped the car – a decision he said he's glad he made.
"I went around and gave him the biggest hug I could give him," Cleve said. "I said, 'Son, I’m so proud of you. I’m so proud of you and we’ll be back in a few weeks for Thanksgiving.'"
Camdan, a running back, was previously a football star for St. Genevieve High School in Los Angeles, near his hometown of Sylmar.
His parents said he was a star 4.0 student in high school and even worked as a teacher's aid for a 4th grade class.
He told his parents that San Jose State felt like home and that's why he chose the school over bigger colleges that recruited him.
"Camdan was an incredible young man," San Jose State football coach Brent Brennan said. "He had a light and a spirit that he shared with everybody, every day. That’s who he was."
Brennan said the Spartans will honor Camdan not just with stickers on their helmets and during Saturday's home game but every day going forward.
The San Jose Unified School District bus had the green light when Camdan entered the crosswalk directly in the vehicle’s path, the California Highway Patrol said. Camdan died at the scene.
Surveillance video reviewed by NBC Bay Area shows what appears to be Camdan running a red light on the scooter.
The CHP said the 36-year-old bus driver pulled over and remained at the scene. Investigators don’t believe alcohol or drugs were a factor in the crash.
There were 14 students, ranging in age from 14 to 17, on the bus at the time of the collision, but none of them were injured, according to the CHP.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
