A family trip to the beach ended in tragedy after a one-year-old boy was killed by a hit-and-run driver in Los Angeles. The horrific crash occurred in Playa Del Rey when a Jeep Cherokee struck the vehicle carrying the infant, his mother, and his uncle.
The Incident
Baby Roger Sandoval Farias was on his way home from a family beach outing when the collision happened. Eyewitnesses told local news outlet NBC4 that attempts to resuscitate Roger at the scene were unsuccessful. The driver of the Jeep Cherokee abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot without stopping to identify themselves or render aid, as required by law.
According to a press release from the Los Angeles Police Department, paramedics from the Los Angeles Fire Department responded and pronounced one occupant of the BMW deceased at the scene. The other three occupants were transported to a local hospital, where one was later pronounced dead, and another remains in critical condition.
Mother's Heartbreaking Plea
Roger's mother, Nicole Farias, expressed her devastation, saying, "I shouldn't be burying my son. I wanted to see him walk, you know?" As she desperately attempted to revive Roger, she was heard crying, "He's still warm, he's still warm," according to reports from the Mirror US.
Cory Cooper, one of several bystanders who rushed to help, recounted the scene: "She ran over and was holding the child. We held the baby and we tried to give the baby CPR for as long as we could, as best as we could, until the ambulance got there."
Uncle Also Killed
Oswaldo Sandoval Amaya, Roger's uncle, was 25 years old and was also pronounced dead at the scene. The family is now grappling with the loss of two loved ones.
Community Support
Roger's grandmother set up a fundraising page to help the family during this devastating time. The page reads: "Roger was a happy and joyful child who brought light to everyone around him. His resilience and smile touched the hearts of all who knew him, and he was truly a blessing to our family. Losing Roger has been an unimaginable loss for our family. We are now facing the difficult task of arranging his funeral and memorial services, and we want to honor his life in the most beautiful way possible. The costs associated with these arrangements are significant, and we are reaching out for support to help us give Roger the farewell he deserves."
The LAPD continues to search for the driver, who fled the scene on foot after abandoning the Jeep Cherokee. Anyone with information is urged to contact the authorities.
