Traffic Collision Proves Fatal to 9-year-old Boy

By Adriane Hopkins Staff Writer

A 9-year-old Ahwatukee Foothills boy out riding his bicycle and enjoying spring break died Wednesday from injuries sustained in a traffic collision a day earlier.

Phoenix police say Jase Ambrose crossed Liberty Lane at 17th Street on his bike without stopping to look both ways and collided with a car driven by Ahwatukee Foothills resident Gemma Perry.

The collision happened shortly after 10 a.m. Tuesday [that would have been March 13, 2001] as Perry was driving west on Liberty Lane.

Ambrose, a second-grade student at Kyrene de la Estrella Elementary School, was not wearing a helmet.

"Everything in this world is on loan from above. I guess it was his time. We are certainly going to miss him," said Brian Ambrose, Jase's father.

Sgt. Steve Fullerton said the posted speed limit along Liberty Lane is 40 mph and that the driver was going the speed limit and was not cited.

"The driver saw the bike and braked prior to the impact," said Fullerton, who was dispatched to the scene to investigate the collision.

Sgt. Dave Norton, who was one of the first officers to arrive at the scene, said it is always important for bicyclists to remember to look both ways before crossing a major street and to wear a helmet.

"Drivers need to be cautious especially since students are out on spring break," Norton said.

Brian said his son suffered massive head injuries and was taken off life support Wednesday morning. He died a short time later at Maricopa County Medical Center in Phoenix.

Brian said many parents in the close knit neighborhood have always urged children to wear helmets and are left to wonder if Jase would have survived with a helmet.

He strongly encourages parents to talk with their children about the importance of wearing a helmet.

Brian added that Jase had been warned about looking both ways before crossing the street and most likely was heading over to play in the dirt fields.

Nevertheless, the father urged motorists to slow down.

"Just slow down a bit and be aware. It's so easy to speed and there are a lot of kids out there," Brian said.

Brian said friends and family, Jase's teacher, principal and the school's parent teacher organization have been providing tremendous support.

A memorial fund has been set up at Mountain Park Community Church in Jase's name. A funeral is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday at the church, 2408 E. Pecos Road, Phoenix.

The last Ahwatukee Foothills traffic fatality involving a child was March 11, 2000 when 14-year-old Jamie Wage was killed after being hit by a sport utility vehicle driven by Kaylyn Gill while crossing 47th Street and Chandler Boulevard.

Adriane Hopkins can be reached at (480) 496-0665 or by e-mail at ahopkins@aztrib.com.