Calif. Father of 9 Dead After Road-Rage Crash Led to Violent Confrontation: 'We’re Never Going to Get Him Back' By Christina Coulter

A father of nine was killed after a minor crash in Castro Valley, Calif., escalated into a violent roadside fight — a confrontation his family says unfolded while he was trying to protect them.

Jason Elola, 49, had been driving with his wife, their 5-month-old baby and 5-year-old daughter on Saturday night when a dark-colored SUV struck the back of 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 his wife, Gabrielle Elola, per KTVU.

“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,” said their son, Angel Elola, per the outlet.

Investigators said a fight broke out between Elola and 37-year-old Martin Davis Jr. before CHP officers arrived and found Elola gravely injured, KTVU and ABC7 reported. He was taken to a hospital, where he later died. The coroner has not yet ruled on his cause of death.

Davis left the scene but later called CHP’s non-emergency line to report his involvement and was instructed to return, per the outlets. He was arrested on suspicion of murder and booked into Santa Rita Jail, according to records cited by KTVU.

He has apparently been released from custody as his name no longer appears in the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office online inmate database as of Thursday, Nov. 13, the Chronicle reported.

“I cut him off accidentally and he just plowed me, right behind me. All the way through here right to here. Then he jumps in front of me. That’s when we collide,” Davis could be heard telling officers in video obtained by ABC7. “He raises his hands. As soon as he attacks me … ring him up … he hits the ground.”

“He was on the floor. He couldn’t see me. He couldn’t talk to me,” Gabrielle said, per KTVU, adding that she didn’t see 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,” Gabrielle said in a separate interview with ABC7. “He was a good man. He didn’t deserve this. He was taken — he was stolen from us. So that is what justice looks like for us, people coming forward. And just find it in your heart to be honest. That is all we can ask.”

“This person didn’t have to take my husband,” she said, per KTVU. “He could have drove 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, according to KTVU, KCRA and the Chronicle.

“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 said, per KTVU.

“Something can happen so quick, and it can impact families more than you’ll ever know,” Angel said, per the outlet. “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,” Angel said at a vigil on Monday, Nov. 10, per ABC7.

Family members told the outlets that Elola ran a pumpkin patch, a Christmas tree lot and a food truck lot in Tracy.

“He was the type of person you could count on if you needed him,” cousin Joseph Munoz told KTVU. “One of the best fathers I’ve ever seen.”

“The nicest, most inviting, loving man that anyone ever knew,” Angel added.

A GoFundMe launched to support the family with funeral expenses and daily costs describes 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 urging anyone who witnessed the Nov. 8 incident or captured cellphone or dash-cam video to come forward.