On the night of the Fourth of July, a heartbreaking incident occurred in Oceanside when a 12-year-old boy named Santiago Gaspar was killed in a car crash. The driver responsible for the accident is allegedly a Marine from Camp Pendleton named Edward Minot Jr. NBC San Diego reports that Minot is now facing suspicion of driving under the influence (DUI) and gross vehicular manslaughter charges following the tragic accident.

The incident began when an Oceanside Police Department (OPD) patrol vehicle attempted to pull over Minot, who was driving a white Volkswagen GTI with no lights on. Instead of yielding, Minot sped away at a high rate of speed, resulting in a brief high-speed pursuit. The chase ended abruptly when Minot's car collided with a blue Nissan Altima traveling east on Surfrider Way, killing young Santiago Gaspar, who was a passenger in the Altima.

The devastating accident not only took Santiago's life but also left his 27-year-old driver and his 6-year-old brother with non-life-threatening injuries as Fox 5 San Diego reported. All survivors of the crash were transported to a local hospital for treatment. Santiago's mother, who was driving in a different car ahead of the Altima, did not witness the accident.

Neighbors described the sound of the crash as similar to a bomb going off, but initially dismissed the noise as fireworks due to the Fourth of July festivities. The investigation is still ongoing, but authorities believe that both alcohol and speed were factors in the tragic event.

Edward Minot Jr., a 20-year-old native of Mill Spring, North Carolina, is now facing legal consequences due to his actions on that fateful night. With the confirmation of his involvement in the accident, many are questioning the responsibilities and expectations placed on military personnel, especially those serving in the Marine Corps.

Anderson Tomas, Santiago's cousin, expressed his family's grief and desire for justice in the wake of the accident in an interview with ABC 10 News. He stated that Minot, as a Marine, should be held to a higher standard than others and should have acted with greater responsibility. Santiago's family is now raising funds online to cover his funeral expenses.

In light of the accident, the 1st Marine Logistics Group has expressed its commitment to enforcing high standards of conduct both on and off duty and pledged to continue its cooperation with the Oceanside Police Department during the investigation.

This tragic event has brought immense pain and suffering to Santiago's family and has left the local community in shock. Those with information regarding this collision are encouraged to contact Oceanside Police Department Traffic Collision Investigator David Paul at (760) 435-4431.