Surveillance video captures 2-year-old in deadly hit and run in Salinas

SALINAS, Calif. (KION) - UPDATE 7/27/24: Police confirm a 2-year-old boy was killed and his father hospitalized following a hit-and-run crash at the corner of East Alisal St. and Wood St. The child was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police say his 38-year-old father has serious injuries but is expected to survive.

Officers told KION the crash happened at the corner of East Alisal Street and Wood Street at 6:20 pm Friday.

Police say they located the suspect's car and are examining it for evidence. Police say the car is not stolen, and are still trying to find the person who was behind the wheel when the incident happened.

So far, no arrests have been made.

A memorial for the victims of Friday night's crash could be seen taking shape Saturday afternoon. 

The two victims had received a haircut at a salon minutes before the tragic incident.
The owner, who had cut the dad's hair, never thought she would be one of the last people they interacted with.

"They were very nice people. The boy was so happy with his haircut. The dad cared for him a lot. They left happy," said Elena Lopez.

With tears in her eyes, she tells KION why this devastating incident hits close to home.

"I have a two-year-old girl. My little girl was playing with him, sharing the last moments here with us," said Lopez.

At several businesses on East Alisal, you can find these blue donation boxes for the family.

One of the organizers of the fundraiser tells KION the mother of the 2-year-old boy is pregnant with her second child.

Officers confirmed they were in the crosswalk when a speeding car hit them. 

Esther Arellanes was running errands nearby and described what she saw.

“I think the father went into the hair salon and he came out, passed on the other side of the pedestrian crosswalk," Esther Arellanes a witness said. "I think the car didn't see them, the car was speeding and that's where they got hit, the car dragged the boy to this side, the father on that side." "But the crossing is all the way up there.”

"I think the little boy's body was lying there for about three hours or more," Arellanes said.

Police say the child was pronounced dead at the scene. 

Officers are still searching for the driver who hit him and his father.

"We believe we found the vehicle, it has damage in evidence consistent with the collision," John Murray Salinas Chief of Police said.

“We're processing the vehicle right now, it's a 2011 red or maroon Hyundai Sonata, a four door," Murray said. "We located the vehicle this morning around 9 a.m., at an apartment complex on Elton place."

“I can tell the drivers that in these parts where there are no lights to be very careful because it is a crossroads and they have to think, that they have to pass at low speed," Fidel Alvarez Mendoza a Salinas resident said.

Salinas police say the driver may be trying to leave the city.

They are combing through surveillance video from businesses in the area.

Police are also urging anyone with video of the crash or information on the driver to come forward. 

“We are after the person who is driving that vehicle, somebody knows who that person is and time is critical," Murray said.

Chief Murray tells me the father's condition is unknown at this hour.

Original post: Salinas Police said they located the suspect vehicle involved in Friday's deadly hit and run crash.

Police previously identified the vehicle as a late 2000’s Hyundai Sonata maroon in color with front end damage. Officers said they are examining the car for evidence, but no arrests have been made.

The department added this remains a very active investigation and members of the public with information on the driver or this case are asked to come forward.