Teen killed running across Tucson interstate

Friends and family are mourning the death of a 15-year-old boy who was killed while and a trying to run across cross Interstate 10 late last week.

Julian Jennings, a freshman at Mountain View High School, and an unidentified 17-year-old boy were running across I-10 in Marana about 10:30 p.m. Jan. 26, when they were struck by a westbound Ford Mustang, said Bart Graves, a spokesman for the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

The driver of the Mustang swerved to try to avoid the boys, but clipped the older boy and struck Jennings, Graves said.

The 17-year-old was taken to the hospital for a broken leg, he said.

“It is a sad circumstance, but this is a very dangerous and illegal thing to do,” Graves said of pedestrians getting onto the interstate.

In September Yvanna Vejar, 14, died when she was struck by two vehicles while she and two friends ran across the interstate near the Marana Road exit.

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A GoFundMe page organized by a friend of the Jennings family friend is raising funds for burial expenses. It has almost reached its goal of $10,000 in matter of three days.

Jennings was described on the page as kind and caring.

Mountain View High School Principal Delia McCraley wrote a letter notifying families of Jennings’ death, as well as services available to students struggling with the event.

“Please keep in mind that students’ reactions to a tragedy such as this are varied,” McCraley wrote. “Some behaviors you might expect to see are sadness, anger, acting-out, physical complaints, academic problems, change in sleep or appetite patterns, or lack of feelings. Listening to your child and providing a supportive environment at this time is very important.”