A community in San Diego is in mourning after a six-year-old boy was killed in a horrific hit-and-run incident on Saturday afternoon. The young victim, Hudson O'Loughlin, was riding his bicycle with his father when a female driver struck him, paused, and then drove over him a second time before speeding away from the scene.
A Tragic Afternoon in Pacific Beach
The fatal collision occurred at approximately 3:45 pm on Saturday in the Pacific Beach neighbourhood of San Diego. According to the San Diego Police Department, Hudson was riding his bike on the pavement with his father when the incident happened as they crossed an alleyway.
The driver, a 32-year-old woman who was turning at the time in her black Tesla, initially hit the boy. Shockingly, authorities report that she then stopped her vehicle for a few seconds before driving off, fatally striking Hudson again as she fled the scene.
Witness Account of the Fatal Collision
David Morrow, a motorist who was driving behind the woman, provided a chilling account of the events. He told CBS8 that he saw the driver "cut right into the alley" before running over Hudson "twice".
"Like, both wheels ran over the kid. She stopped right in front for about ten seconds. That's when I pulled behind her and got her license number, and then she took off," Morrow stated. He recalled that a bystander, who may have been a paramedic, rushed to help the injured boy.
"He got up at first and was standing there all in pain, and then they laid him down, and he stopped breathing right in front of me," Morrow said of Hudson. "It was sad, and then I left." The young boy was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Community Grief and Calls for Safety Measures
The driver was later apprehended after her car was located in National City, roughly 20 minutes from the scene. Police confirmed that alcohol was not a factor in the collision. Her identity and specific charges have not yet been disclosed.
Hudson has been remembered by his heartbroken family as "a bright, curious child who loved all things science, and his energy was contagious." A GoFundMe page set up to support his family highlighted his love for swimming, Lego, BMX, and riding his bike outdoors. By Monday afternoon, it had raised over $46,000.
His mother, Juliana Kapovich, shared an emotional tribute on Facebook, writing: "Being Hudson’s mother was the greatest honor of my life." She revealed her son dreamed of becoming a military scientist. "Hudson, thank you for choosing me as your mama. You changed our lives forever," she added.
The tragedy has sparked urgent calls from local residents for improved safety measures to protect cyclists, pedestrians, and children in the area. Courtney Rogers, a local resident, stressed the need for "more stop signs, lights, warning signs, flashing lights, I mean anything that we could do."
Another cyclist, Mark Johnston, echoed these concerns, pointing to a lack of traffic calming measures between major junctions. A growing memorial of flowers, candles, and stuffed animals now marks the site of the tragedy, as the community grapples with the devastating loss.
