By Mike Weland
Updated 8:12 a.m. Saturday, September 20
We have learned that Jose’s father was driving a box truck Wednesday morning near the intersection of 7th Street and Margo Avenue in Long Beach, California, when a road rage incident, not involving him, erupted. His 2017 Mitsubishi Fuso was struck from behind by a Tesla involved in a chase with a Subaru, knocking the truck through a brick sound wall and causing it to overturn. Jose Sr. was pronounced dead; two passengers in the truck and the Tesla driver were hospitalized.
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Jose Cesena Jr., owner of 9B Tacos in Bonners Ferry and the single father of three young sons after losing his wife to cancer in 2021, is now grieving the loss of his father, Jose Cesena Sr., who died this week in a vehicle collision.
Friends have rallied to Jose Jr’s. side, and a GoFundMe account has been established to help the family with funeral and travel expenses.
“Familia, my BEST FRIEND — MY FATHER — was involved in a brutal senseless deadly car accident yesterday afternoon and lost his life. He was my homie, my jefe, mi Apa. Love you Jefe Jose,” Jose Jr. posted to Facebook Tuesday, his grief and anguish laid bare. “I’m not one to do this, it was hard enough to ask for help and prayers when my wife died four years ago. If you have any desire to contribute even a prayer, it would be greatly appreciated.”
All proceeds donated will go directly to the family.