Police Hunt Hit-And-Run Driver Who Left 3-Year-Old Boy Critical In Highland
HIGHLAND (CBSLA.com) — Police in Highland are on the hunt for a hit-and-run driver who left a 3-year-old boy in critical condition.
Surveillance video captured the little boy running out of a laundromat.
CBS2's Tina Patel reports that seconds later, the little boy was struck and dragged by a driver in the parking lot outside the laundromat.
The driver took off, police said.
The boy is in critical condition.
"It's heartbreaking. I hate to hear anything happening with a child," said Gina Silvas.
She doesn't know the child or his family but the accident hits her close to home.
Years ago, she told Patel an 18-month-old nephew was killed under similar circumstances.
"The same exact thing happened. Hit-and-run driver. Driver never even came back, never even cared, just kept going," she said.
Even though the accident happened in the evening and it was getting dark, Silvas says the driver has to know he hit someone.
"I run over a Coke can and I know I ran over something. running over a child and then dragging that child, no. he knew. I'm sure he did," she said.
Michael Johnson said many families patronize the businesses in this Highland shopping center but that drivers often speed through the parking lot.
"They have no regards," he said, "for anybody's safety."
Witnesses were able to give police a solid description of the suspect. They said he was Latino, with beard or goatee between 40 and 50 years of age. The suspect was driving a maroon or burgundy, late 90s Ford-150 truck with boarded sidewalls and landscaping equipment in the back.
People who live in the area say they'll be keeping their eyes open for the driver and the vehicle.
"Bring him to justice," said Silvas, "It's wrong what he did. It's wrong. You don't just take off."
If you have any information on the suspect or the vehicle, you're asked to call Highland Police.
