A California driver has been arrested after police say she struck a six-year-old boy riding his bike on the pavement, stopped her vehicle, then accelerated and drove over him again, a sequence that has sparked public outrage and calls for severe charges.
San Diego police allege the incident unfolded in broad daylight as the child rode alongside family members in the Pacific Beach area. Prosecutors are expected to announce formal charges after the case drew intense scrutiny from the victim's family and the wider community.
What Police Say Happened
According to a police account cited by the San Diego Union-Tribune, the boy, Hudson O'Loughlin, was cycling on a pavement near Pacific Beach Drive and Ingraham Street at around 3:45 p.m. on 17 January when he was struck by an SUV driven by a 32-year-old woman, Tiffany Sanchez.
Police allege the initial impact knocked the child from his bike. The driver then brought her vehicle to a stop for several seconds before accelerating again and driving over the boy's body. Officers described the second impact as deliberate movement after the vehicle had already halted.
Emergency services were called to the scene, but the child later died from his injuries.
Witness Describes Second Impact
A witness driving behind the suspect vehicle told local television station KFMB that he saw the SUV stop after the first collision.
'Right after she hit the kid, she ran over him twice,' the witness said. 'She stopped right in front for about ten seconds, and then she took off.'
The witness said he pulled in behind the vehicle, noted the licence plate number and later provided it to police. Authorities said the bystander's actions were crucial in identifying and locating the suspect.
Arrest and Charges Explained
The driver was arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter without gross negligence and hit-and-run causing death. A spokesperson for the San Diego County District Attorney's Office confirmed that charges have now been formally filed.
'Ms. Sanchez bailed out of jail and has been given a date to return to court,' the spokesperson told Law&Crime. 'Charges will be announced Tuesday.'
The driver is scheduled to be arraigned in court, where prosecutors are expected to outline the specific counts and potential penalties.
Family Says 'This Was Not an Accident'
Relatives of the child have publicly rejected any suggestion that the death was accidental. His aunt said the sequence described by police shows a clear disregard for human life.
'This was not an accident,' she said in a Facebook post. 'After an initial collision that threw him from his bike, the driver chose to accelerate instead of stopping to help, fatally running him over and then fleeing the scene.'
Family members have urged prosecutors to pursue felony charges that reflect the seriousness of the alleged actions.
Petition and Community Response
An online petition calling for justice has gathered support since the arrest. The petition states that the child was riding with his family on the pavement when he was hit and killed, and that the driver fled the scene before being identified by witnesses.
Supporters have echoed concerns about road safety and accountability for drivers, particularly in residential and coastal neighbourhoods where pedestrians and cyclists are common.
Remembering the Child
A GoFundMe page set up for the family describes the boy as a vibrant and deeply loved child with a strong interest in science. Relatives said his energy was contagious and that his death has devastated those who knew him.
His mother has also used social media to call for safer streets for cyclists and pedestrians, urging greater awareness of how quickly lives can be altered by a single decision behind the wheel.
