Two brothers, two tragic deaths and one man binding them all
By Betsy Avelar Staff Writer
Gilroy – On July 15, Erick Westphal’s hands were covered in blood once again – the same hands that 20 days earlier tried to help a 5-year-old boy as he lay dying on a Gilroy sidewalk.
Westphal, 48, was on the scene of two fatal accidents in Gilroy barely three weeks apart. With him at the time of the first incident was his friend Rico Loza, who attempted life-saving measures on Brayan Trejo. Rico’s brother, Jose Loza, was helping at the second incident when Westphal happened upon the scene. For the trio, the incidents influenced their careers and views of life.
“The extent of the trauma is something I will always hold reference to,” said Jose Loza, who is studying to become a paramedic. “It was a segue to what’s coming, a stepping stone to my whole medical career.”
On June 27, Westphal, a social worker for Santa Clara County, and his friend Rico Loza, a 19-year-old student, came upon the scene after Brayan Trejo was hit by a truck while crossing 10th Street. The two friends were eating lunch at Joe’s Italian Restaurant when they heard the screams outside.
Then on July 15, Westphal was driving to Gilroy from his home in Morgan Hill and saw a riderless horse wandering along Monterey Road between Farrell and Lohansey avenues. He stopped his car, tied up the horse and ran to where several people were crowded around a man on the ground. As Westphal arrived, Jose Loza, 23, was already helping the victim.
Jose Loza happened to be going to Gilroy, saw the accident and approached the scene to help the injured man. Both Jose Loza and Westphal worked together in an attempt to save the life of Jose Juan Pacheco Figueroa, who was riding the horse when it crossed the highway and turned sharply, forcing his upper body into a pole, killing him. Figueroa died of blunt forced injuries, according to Patra Albrecht, a coroner investigator.
“It was interesting because I looked to my right and I thought I was seeing Rico again,” said Westphal, recalling the incident. “For whatever reason we needed to be together in this situation,” he said referring to Rico’s brother.
“I thought that was a coincidence. I thought it was a weird coincidence,” said Jose Loza. “Erick is a great guy, and I thought it was weird that he was there for those horrible events. He brought a sense of stability to it. I didn’t know he was the same guy who helped with my brother.”
Unlike Jose, Rico knew Westphal as a young teenager and sees him as a role model.
“Erick was a major influence in my life,” said Rico Loza, remembering how Westphal mentored him through a youth leadership program.
Although he, like his brother Jose, was interested in becoming a paramedic, he knew he did not want to continue in the medical field following the Brayan Trejo incident.
“When one of the (Emergency Medical Technicians) arrived at the scene, he just looked at (Brayan Trejo) and said, ‘This kid’s done, scrape him up,’ in front of his brother,” Rico said. “They just didn’t care. Now I really don’t know if I want to get into it anymore.”
Jose was never formally introduced to Westphal, but had seen him before. However, that day along the side of the highway, he was too immersed in the situation to notice Westphal’s familiar face.
“We exchanged hugs over the sentiment of this man’s death. It was more (because of) the whole entire thing. ‘You just helped me, and I just helped you. Thanks,'” said Jose Loza regarding the experience of trying to save a man’s life with Westphal.
When Westphal told him that he was also at the Trejo scene with his brother Rico, the Loza family took the incident as a wake up call in helping them value life and realize how fragile it can be.
“I think God had my sons at the wrong place at the right time,” said Luis Loza, a Gilroy resident and proud father.
“I was really shocked. I thought that was weird,” said Rico Loza. “I do believe that it was something to awaken me and my brother. I live my life to the fullest as if there’s no tomorrow now.”
His mother Patricia Loza agreed with this view.
“I just feel that God has a bigger purpose for them; for them to do greater things and to continue helping people, to further their education and (reach) their goals,” she said.
Westphal said the brothers are true heroes, and that they know just what to do in an emergency situation.
“What Rico and what (Jose) did during these situations just proved to anybody that they are willing to help out the community,” he said.
Betsy Avelar is an intern and attends Gavilan College. Reach her at 847-7216 or ba*****@************ch.com.
