UPDATED: LAKE ELSINORE: 9-year-old boy killed after hit and dragged by hit and run driver

UPDATED: Mar. 14, 8 p.m. With additional details

LAKE ELSINORE — The devastated family of a 9-year-old boy is pleading for the public’s help identifying and locating a man who ran the child down in a Lake Elsinore cross walk before fleeing the scene, Tuesday evening, March 13.

The young victim was inside a marked cross walk just a few yards from his home when a red Chevy pickup truck ran a stop sign and struck the young victim. After hitting the boy the man continued driving, dragging the victim’s body about 25 yards down the road as his horrified mother and sister watched on helplessly.

After hitting the boy, the man – described as a Hispanic male adult – slowed only long enough to cause the boy’s body to dislodge from the truck, before speeding away.

A memorial with flowers now sits near the intersection of W. Sumner and N. Langstaff Street where the victim, identified by family members as Antonio Ochoa Jr., was fatally struck.

Officials say the truck could have front-end damage and a broken windshield and they are now searching for surveillance video that might have shown the accident or truck, either before or after the collision. They are also asking for the public’s help identifying and locating the man they say ran the child over.

City of Lake Elsinore Police and Fire personnel raced to the scene of the accident shortly before 7:30 p.m., after they were notified regarding a juvenile pedestrian struck by a pickup truck, Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant James Woodland explained the morning after the hit and run.

When officials arrived at the scene they found a juvenile pedestrian down in the roadway with “significant injuries,” said Woodland. The juvenile was transported to a local hospital and then moved to a regional facility where he later died. Officials did not specify the nature or extent of the boy’s injuries.

Despite searching the area, deputies have not yet identified or located the hit and run driver.

Members of Lake Elsinore PD’s Traffic Reconstruction Team responded to the scene and are conducting a full investigation to determine the cause of the collision and attempting to locate the driver and vehicle.

During the initial accident investigation and reconstruction, officials called for the temporary closure of the intersection at Sumner and Langstaff and the roadway was re-opened about five hours later.

Lake Elsinore PD is seeking the assistance of the community to locate the driver and vehicle. Anyone who believes they may have information about this collision or who witnessed the incident is encouraged to contact Officer Hansen of the Lake Elsinore Police Department at (951) 245-3300. Callers can refer to incident file number L180720128 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s CrimeTips online form.

 

Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, who recently moved from Riverside County to Shasta County, runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for Riverside County based newspapers Valley News, The Valley Chronicle and Anza Valley Outlook as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident.

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center and Lake Elsinore Station, along with other locations.