A tragic incident occurred yesterday night in Stanislaus County when a two-year-old boy was fatally struck by a vehicle on Highway 33. CBS Sacramento reported that the child, later identified as Benjamin Zepeda, was near a food truck with his father when he ran onto the roadway and was hit by a car driven by a 19-year-old.
The California Highway Patrol informed that the accident happened north of Crows Landing Road, with the 19-year-old driver from Patterson pulling over after the collision. Standing on the west shoulder of the road, it is unclear why Benjamin ran into the lane of traffic. In the aftermath, the vehicle was struck by gunfire, which prompted the young driver to leave the scene; he is currently cooperating with the investigation. KCRA 3 detailed that no injuries resulted from the shots fired, and no arrests have been made in relation to the shooting.
Authorities disclosed that the injured child was transported to Doctors Medical Center in Modesto but he succumbed to his injuries later. While factors such as DUI or speed have not been confirmed to play a role, the investigation by CHP is ongoing.
The mother, Almendra, expressed her grief, describing Benjamin as a "loving boy, my only child, firstborn." In a heart-rending quote captured by CBS Sacramento, she remembered her son for his cheerful spirit, "Very funny, with a bubbly personality. He enjoyed watching Spider-Man, pounding juice boxes, and sneaking apple sauce pouches in his room." The roadway where the incident took place was closed for several hours, reopening near midnight. As of now, the source of the gunfire remains a mystery with ongoing investigations.
