The Sacramento State football community is mourning the loss of Ivan Garza, a former offensive lineman whose life was cut short in a pedestrian collision in Kern County early Wednesday morning. Garza, just 25 years old, was struck while crossing a roadway in Delano and later died from his injuries at the hospital.
Garza’s journey to Sac State began years before he ever took the field for the Hornets. The Robert F. Kennedy High School product—also from Delano—helped lead his high school program to a Central Section Division 5 championship before heading to Sacramento. His college career spanned from 2021 to 2023 after he redshirted in 2019, with his 2020 season canceled due to COVID-19. In that timeframe, he became part of the Sac State football legacy, contributing to the program during a pivotal period for the team.
The Delano Police Department responded to the crash involving a 32-year-old female driver who cooperated fully with investigators. At this stage, authorities have not yet determined whether drugs or alcohol played a role in the collision. The cause of the crash remains under investigation—details that will likely matter deeply to Garza’s family and the close-knit Sac State athletics community as they seek answers.
What makes this loss especially poignant is how it echoes across two communities: his hometown of Delano, where he was a high school champion, and Sacramento, where he grew his legacy as a college athlete. The family has set up a GoFundMe page in his memory, a tangible way for those who knew him—teammates, coaches, classmates—to come together and support one another through the grief.
About the Author
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.
