10-year-old killed in Fresno collision remembered during vigil as ‘always happy’
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- Corday Brown, age 10, died after being struck by a car near Highway 99 in Fresno.
- Brown was known for his resilience, athleticism and leadership among peers.
- Community, family and classmates gathered to mourn and honor Brown’s memory.
Even at a young age, 10-year-old Corday Brown touched a lot of lives.
His fifth-grade teacher at Edison-Bethune Charter Academy, Kevin Agunod, was among a large crowd that gathered Monday night near the site where Corday was killed in a collision. They brought balloons, said a prayer and recalled Corday.
Agunod at the vigil said Corday was a bright student and outgoing athlete.
“The past few weeks, he had a cast on and that never limited him,” Agunod said. “He was always first in line on our basketball court and he was always first to get picked. He was so good, even with just one hand. He knew he was good, and the things that he wasn’t good at, he always wanted to get (better).”
Agunod found out Sunday night that Brown was killed when a vehicle struck him on the off-ramp on Highway 99 towards Golden State Boulevard from Cesar Chavez Boulevard. He was with a group of 10 children who were playing in the area, CHP said.
Shock and sadness filled Edison-Bethune on Monday: “It’s been a rough day,” said Marty Solis, the school’s liason.
Brown’s father, Cortney, visited his son’s classroom.
“The kids expressed their condolences to him,” Solis said. “It was a touching moment for him to be there in the classroom and then the teacher gave him a folder of his work. He really didn’t have any words to say.
“It’s surreal. I can’t believe he’s gone.”
Brown’s father, who was diagnosed with cancer a month ago, spoke about his son during the vigil and what he meant to his family.
Corday’s mother died when she gave birth to her son.
Yet, the boy was determined. He played football for the Fresno Miners Youth Football team and there were already plans that Brown would be the starting quarterback for his team, said coach Ray Mayberry.
“Outgoing kid. Just humble,” Mayberry said. “Even when his dad started chemo, you couldn’t even tell because he was always happy through everything, through the pain. I think that’s probably one of the reasons he was such a good athlete. He used that pain on the inside and turned it into a weapon in whatever sport he was playing.”
This story was originally published September 23, 2025 at 9:33 AM.
