Paloma Foster, 35, a scholar at the University of California, Berkeley, died from injuries sustained in a car crash on June 24, 2026. Her seven-year-old son, Cairo, and her boyfriend, Shiloh, who were also in the vehicle, survived the incident. Foster had previously spoken about overcoming a challenging upbringing that included time in foster care and juvenile detention.

Foster was released from juvenile detention at 18 and later enrolled at UC Berkeley, where she studied political science and public policy. She transferred to Berkeley from Fullerton College after receiving a scholarship. In a promotional feature from Fullerton College, Foster reflected on her past, stating, "You can’t erase or overcome a less-than-ideal childhood, but you can actively make a choice on how you want to perceive that experience."

A community group at Berkeley that supports students affected by incarceration shared a tribute to Foster, noting her significant contributions. "She generously gave countless hours of her time, wisdom, encouragement, and love to help strengthen our community and support others on their journeys," the group said. They also highlighted her "warm smile, infectious laugh, beautiful spirit, and genuine care for those around her."

According to a friend, Marlo De La Mora, Foster was in the passenger seat when the crash occurred, with her boyfriend driving. De La Mora also stated that Foster had not been wearing her seatbelt correctly and suffered a rib fracture that punctured her lung, leading to internal bleeding. The friend suggested that Foster might have survived if the seatbelt had been properly secured. Information has been sought from the police and the California Highway Patrol.

Foster had aspirations of further academic pursuits, having shared photos from Yale Law School in 2024 and expressing a hope to attend the university after graduating from Berkeley. She also posted images from the White House and at her son Cairo's kindergarten graduation, reflecting on her role as a mother and striving to be a positive example.

A GoFundMe campaign has been established to support Cairo in the wake of his mother's death.