Mourning mother speaks out after her child dies in hit-and-run in Salinas

SALINAS, Calif. (KION-TV) - A grieving mother speaks out after losing her son to a hit-and-run Friday evening in Salinas.

"This is him on his birthday cutting his cake. We were such a beautiful family," said Martina Maldonado.

Martina looks back at pictures of her son Fermin during his three years on Earth.

He was her life and joy who loved to color and spend time with family. Martina still processing the loss of her firstborn.

"He was such a beautiful kid, he loved to go out on walks, and we would go out and play outside. He was such a wonderful kid," said Maldonado.

After recently turning three years old in June, his life was taken at an intersection on Friday while crossing the street with his dad after getting a haircut.

Martina who is seven months pregnant, says she had just gotten off the phone with him minutes before the tragic incident.

"They told me they were on their way back. Fifteen minutes later I went out to go check on them and that's when I saw the accident had already happened and it hit me that I won't be able to see my kid anymore without life," said Maldonado.

People could be seen dropping off flowers at Fermins growing memorial where his body was left behind.

Neighbors in East Salinas hand-made and set up these blue donation boxes for the family you can find at several businesses.

"I feel supported and I thank them with all my heart," said Maldonado.

Her husband who was walking with Fermin has been released from the hospital.

Martina says he is still recovering.

"He's traumatized. He thought that car was going to stop because all the other cars had but it didn't."

Martina had plans to move back to Mexico where she is from when her son turned four. Now she plans to bury him there.

Martina says no mother should ever go through the pain of losing a child and wants to hold the person who committed this senseless act of cruelty accountable.

"If they did it to me tomorrow, they will do it to someone else. I also want justice for my son," said Maldonado.

The family has opened up a GoFundMe page for anyone interested in making a donation ahead of Fermin's service.