Gardena, California – The Gardena community is in shock following the tragic incident in which a driver struck a young child and his grandmother, leaving the child dead and his companion in critical condition. Local authorities are actively seeking the responsible party, who fled the scene after the accident.
The fatal accident occurred on Sunday, February 11, 2024, at the pedestrian crossing of Marine Avenue and Budlong Avenue, around 10:30 a.m. The involved driver, whose identity has not yet been revealed, hit 5-year-old Patrick Mateo Chacón and his grandmother before fleeing the scene.
Anesa Boone, a resident of the area, expressed her outrage towards the fleeing driver: “You didn’t even have any compassion. No matter who it was or what it was, you should have stopped. You really should have stopped.” This sense of disbelief and distress is echoed throughout the community, which is calling for justice for Patrick and his family.
The Gardena hit-and-run accident has reignited concerns about road safety. Residents, Rubén Rivera and Sylvia Quintana have pointed out the need for additional measures, such as speed bumps or enhanced signage, to prevent similar tragedies in the future. The proximity of an elementary school to the accident site underscores the urgency of addressing these concerns and ensuring the safety of pedestrians, especially children.
Despite investigators having some leads, the driver remains at large. Anyone with relevant information about this case is urged to contact Investigator José Zamudio of the Gardena Police Department at (310) 217-6189 or Sergeant Daniel Guzzo at (310) 217-6122.
