The Phoenix community is uniting in support of a local family grieving the loss of their 4-year-old son, Miguel Dominguez, who was fatally struck in a traffic accident while crossing a road with his mother. The tragedy occurred near the intersection of McDowell Road and 36th Street, as reported by ABC15.
In response to this devastating event, teachers, parents, and community members came together over the weekend to hold a car wash fundraiser to aid Miguel's family with funeral expenses, and the event took place at the parking lot of his preschool, Magic Star Pre School—the very institution that had been a part of Miguel’s life for two years, his presence there recalled fondly he was a bright, happy child known for his enthusiastic greetings and emerging confidence, as Eileen Buckley, Miguel's preschool teacher, sorrowfully recounted to ABC15, "He's been with us for two years," Buckley said, not only that but "I'm going to miss him, 'Ms. Lee! Ms. Lee!' That's always how he used to call me not Miss Eileen," Buckley said, her voice heavy with the weight of his absence.
A makeshift memorial now stands at the scene of the accident, serving both as a poignant tribute to the young boy's life and as a stark reminder to the community of the fragility that can accompany any moment on the road, indeed, this sentiment was echoed by Tamir Fears, a father of one of Miguel's classmates who assisted with the fundraiser, who stated the necessity of constant vigilance while driving, telling ABC15, "You may look away for a split second...but that split second can take a kid's life."
The impact of Miguel's passing extends beyond the immediate family, affecting peers and educators at Magical Star Pre-School, where he is remembered for his love of singing and dinosaurs, often sneaking them in his pockets, these small everyday joys, now poignant memories, were shared in an interview with Jessica Layton, another of Miguel's teachers, with 12news, Layton reflected, "He was just the brightest light. He used to be one of the shiest kids that I knew, and this last year, he actually came out of his shell so much."
As the Phoenix police continue their investigation into the crash, the driver involved has not faced charges at this time having remained on scene and not suspected of impairment; meanwhile, the heartbreak of the preschool community serves as a painful illustration of a broader call to awareness and safety on the roads, as stated by Eileen Buckley to 12news, "Nobody should lose a child." Contributions to assist Miguel's family can still be made directly at the preschool’s location.
