A father of nine was tragically killed after a minor crash in Castro Valley, California, turned into a violent roadside confrontation — an incident his family says unfolded while he was trying to protect them.
Jason Elola, 49, was driving with his wife, their 5-month-old baby, and 5-year-old daughter on Saturday night when a dark-colored SUV rear-ended their vehicle near an Interstate 580 off-ramp by Wilbeam and Norbridge avenues, according to KTVU, ABC7, and the San Francisco Chronicle.
“We were scared. My husband got out to protect us,” said Gabrielle Elola.
Their son, Angel, added, “My dad, the protector he is, wanted to make sure his wife, 5-month-old baby, and 5-year-old daughter were okay. He got out and wanted to see what the issue was.”
Investigators say a fight broke out between Jason Elola and 37-year-old Martin Davis Jr. before CHP officers arrived. Elola was found gravely injured and later died at the hospital. The coroner has not yet ruled on his cause of death.
Davis initially left the scene but later called CHP’s non-emergency line to report his involvement. He was arrested on suspicion of murder and booked into Santa Rita Jail, though reports indicate he has since been released.
In a video obtained by ABC7, Davis described the incident: “I cut him off accidentally and he just plowed me… Then he jumps in front of me. That’s when we collide. He raises his hands. As soon as he attacks me… ring him up… he hits the ground.”
Gabrielle said she did not witness the fight but saw her husband moments later. “He was just protecting his family. He was just protecting his daughters and me. I think anybody can understand that. Anybody would do that for their family. That is what he did,” she told ABC7.
“He was a good man. He didn’t deserve this. He was taken — he was stolen from us,” Gabrielle said. “This person didn’t have to take my husband. He could have driven away. He could have done anything else — but this… you can’t just take somebody away from their family. We’re never going to get him back.”
The family had spent the day celebrating their son’s 18th birthday in San Francisco and stopped for ice cream on their way home. Angel shared, “They wanted to stop for some ice cream at my dad’s favorite ice cream place he used to take us as kids — Loard’s.”
Angel added, “Something can happen so quick, and it can impact families more than you’ll ever know. There’s nine kids and four grandkids who have been widely affected. Not only does he deserve justice, but for our sakes as well. We deserve justice.”
Jason Elola ran a pumpkin patch, a Christmas tree lot, and a food truck lot in Tracy. Cousin Joseph Munoz called him “one of the best fathers I’ve ever seen,” and Angel described him as “the nicest, most inviting, loving man that anyone ever knew.”
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the family with funeral expenses and daily costs, remembering Elola as “the heart of our family — a kind, generous, and loving man who brought laughter and warmth wherever he went.”
Authorities and family members are asking anyone who witnessed the November 8 incident or has cellphone or dash-cam footage to come forward.
Chiusing anger and making stupid decisions always lead to harm
I have a feeling that the victim probably break-checked the driver and when he got rear-ended, got out of his car and started to escalate with the driver who rear-ended him. This BS that he got out to to check on things doesn’t jive, because people dont get out to check on things with theirs fists up.