A father from Prunedale, California, has been charged with second-degree murder and felony child endangerment after the tragic death of his 7-year-old daughter, who was fatally struck by a car on Highway 101, according to an article from the Mercury News. The Monterey County authorities have stated that the father displayed negligence and failed to provide essential safety measures for his daughter, Eliana, who was on the autism spectrum.

This heartbreaking incident took place in early April 2023, as Eliana was found alone and wearing dark clothes in the southbound lanes of Highway 101, just south of Highway 156, where she was struck by several cars. What makes this case particularly disturbing is that the young girl had a history of leaving home by herself, and she had been previously rescued by California Highway Patrol officers on the same stretch of Highway 101 only three weeks before her untimely death.

Eliana's father, Jermain Gonzalez, has now been arrested by California Highway Patrol following a 3-month-long investigation. Gonzalez knew about his daughter's strong tendency to runaway but allegedly failed to provide the necessary safety and security measures.

In an interview with KRON4, days after the tragic incident, Gonzalez spoke about his last night with his daughter, watching a Disney movie together before they both fell asleep. He expressed feelings of guilt, stating, "She was my buddy. She cannot be with a babysitter for more than a day because she starts calling out for me."

Following the loss of Eliana's mother six months before the young girl's death, her family now faces an additional heartache. As a result, Eliana's aunt created a GoFundMe page for Gonzalez, which has successfully raised $16,000. In the description of the fundraiser, Eliana's aunt describes her as being "very unpredictable" and reveals that leaving the house without an adult's knowledge had happened multiple times before.