Chula Vista’s Sophie and Aaron Perez Killed in Memorial Day Weekend Crash; Family Raises $51K in Days

A Chula Vista family is mourning the sudden and devastating loss of two adult children after a fatal vehicle accident over Memorial Day weekend.

Sophie and Aaron Perez, the son and daughter of Jose and Erika Perez, were killed in the crash, leaving their family shattered and facing the enormous weight of grief alongside unexpected funeral costs.

The Chula Vista American Little League, where Jose Perez served as an umpire for several years, including district tournaments and All-Star games, was among the first to share the news publicly.

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In a Facebook post, the organization expressed its deep sorrow and called on the community to step up for a family that had given so much to local youth sports.

Sophie was remembered by those who loved her as someone who could light up any room she walked into. Her boyfriend of nearly six years, Pedro Rivera, described her as a firecracker full of personality and one of the most selfless people he had ever known.

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She loved her dog Luna, her Jeep, and making memories with her cousins and the people closest to her. Pedro had been welcomed warmly into the Perez family and said the two had shared dreams and plans for a future together.

Aaron was described as someone with a creative side and a love of technology, video games, sightseeing, and off-roading. Those who knew him remembered his constant smile and the way he loved joking around with the people he cared about.

A Family in Crisis, a Community Responding

In the days following the tragedy, Pedro Rivera and Jose Perez launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover funeral expenses and other urgent financial needs. The response from the community has been overwhelming.

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Within two days of the fundraiser going live, more than 587 donors had contributed over $51,000, surpassing the original $50,000 goal.

The comments section of the Little League’s Facebook post filled quickly with messages of love, condolence, and prayer from people who had crossed paths with the Perez family through baseball, work, and everyday life. One commenter wrote that her heart literally hurt and that the loss was being felt at her workplace as well, suggesting Sophie touched lives far beyond her immediate circle.

Jose and Erika Perez now face the unimaginable task of planning two funerals simultaneously while processing a grief that no parent should ever know. The funds raised will go directly to the couple to ease the financial burden as they navigate what lies ahead.

Pedro Rivera, in his message on the fundraiser page, closed with a passage from Romans that speaks to life, death, and belonging to God, a quiet reflection of a family drawing on faith to endure the unendurable.

Anyone wishing to support the Perez family can find the GoFundMe fundraiser at gofund.me/3c0b76358. Every donation, regardless of size, goes directly to Jose and Erika Perez during this incredibly difficult time.