A tragic accident in Riverside County, California, resulted in the death of a 3-year-old girl and left her mother injured. The incident occurred on the evening of August 31 in the Mead Valley area. A 17-year-old boy, riding a dirt bike, collided with the young girl who was cycling, while her mother walked alongside her.
The teenager, instead of assisting the victims, fled the scene. The toddler was rushed to the hospital, but unfortunately, she succumbed to her injuries. Her mother, who is currently pregnant, suffered moderate injuries.
The California Highway Patrol apprehended the 17-year-old from Perris on Friday. He was taken to the Riverside Juvenile Hall, where he was charged with vehicular manslaughter and hit-and-run resulting in fatal injuries.
The deceased child, identified as Odalys Navarro, was riding her bicycle on a dirt sidewalk in the rural community when the accident occurred. The mother and daughter were returning home from a park when they were hit near the intersection of Steel Peak Drive and Palm Street shortly after 7:30 p.m.
Both victims were hospitalized. The mother, Rubi Navarro, expressed her grief and anguish in a post accompanying a GoFundMe campaign. She stated that the reckless driver had left her family “shattered and broken.” Odalys would have turned 4 later this month.
Jeff Greene, chief of staff for Riverside County Supervisor Kevin Jeffries, described the Mead Valley community as rural with limited lighting in some areas. The area is predominantly inhabited by low-income Black and Latino families. The supervisor’s office has received complaints about off-road vehicles driving down the roads, and the county has requested funding to establish sidewalks in the area.
The California Highway Patrol is urging anyone with information about the crash to contact their Riverside investigators at (951) 637-8000.