PERRIS, CA- A 17-year-old male has been apprehended in connection with a fatal hit-and-run incident. The incident, which occurred on the evening of August 31, claimed the life of a 3-year-old girl and left her pregnant mother injured.
The young victim, identified as Odalys Navarro, was riding her bicycle to a nearby park with her mother when the incident occurred. The teenager, who was riding a dirt bike, struck the mother and daughter in the Riverside County community. Odalys was rushed to a local hospital, where she later succumbed to her injuries.
The mother, who is currently expecting, was also hospitalized. However, her injuries were not life-threatening. The incident has left the family and the community in shock, as they mourn the loss of a young life.
The California Highway Patrol, in a statement released on Friday, confirmed the arrest of the teenager. He was taken into custody and is currently being held at Riverside Juvenile Hall. The charges against him include vehicular manslaughter and hit-and-run resulting in fatal injuries.
According to investigators, the teenager was riding his dirt bike east on Steele Peak Drive near Palm Street when he collided with Odalys and her mother. They were on the side of the road at the time of the incident. After the collision, the teenager reportedly fled the scene without offering any assistance to the victims.
Odalys, who was just weeks away from her fourth birthday, is remembered fondly by her family. Her uncle, Mauro Aguilar, described her as an “amazing little girl” who brought light into the lives of those around her. He also revealed that she had received her little bike just three days before the tragic incident.