A San Jose teenager was killed Monday morning as he was riding his bicycle on his way to Silver Creek High School, authorities said.

He is the ninth pedestrian or bicyclist to be killed in San Jose this year, police said.

The teen, who is likely 15 or 16, was struck by a Ford F-150 pickup truck about 7:35 a.m. along Silver Creek Road and East Capitol Expressway, according to San Jose police officer Albert Morales. The teen was riding a "fixie," bicycles that are really fast and good for tricks. Some fixie bikes don't have brakes, and the cyclists pedal backwards to stop. This teen's bicycle had one brake.

The teen was taken to a hospital, where Morales said he died about 8:10 a.m. Morales added that the boy was not wearing a helmet.

On Tuesday afternoon, the boy's friends, with their parents' permission, identified the teen as Andy Martinez, his parents' only son and the eldest of five siblings. Friends were tweeting throughout the day, sharing their photos and grief, using the hashtag #RIPAndy.

Family told the school's principal that Andy didn't usually ride to school on his bike; his parents usually drove him.

Chris de Jesus, a senior at Silver Creek High, told NBC Bay Area called Andy "really fun" and a likeable guy. Joshua Francisco, 14, also rides a fixed gear bike, and sometimes rode with Andy to school. He said the intersection where Andy was hit is often busy; he, too, almost was hit the other day. Now, that his friend has died, Joshua said he's going to reconsider wearing a helmet.

Raw Video: Teen Cyclist Fatally Struck by Car in San Jose

The driver stopped and cooperated with police. Early in the morning, officers directed traffic, chalked the street and took photographs as they collected evidence to try to figure out what happened.

Andy was struck a few blocks from Silver Creek High School, where the principal, Adolfo Laguna, said the teen is a sophomore at the school.

May has been a deadly month for San Jose children walking or biking to school.

Last week, a Silver Lexus SUV was driving westbound on Bluefield Drive in San Jose when it struck 5-year-old Aileen Quiroz Chavez, killing her.



Her 2-year-old sister, Arlet, and their Aunt Maria Alana were struck as well. Both were taken to a hospital, though the toddler was released by Wednesday.

In March, 14-year-old Lelya Beban was riding her bike when she was killed on her way to school in Redwood City.