I really didn’t want to write this one.
For over a week now, we’ve followed the story of the Garden Grove family who were run down by an allegedly drunken hit-and-run driver as the parents rode their bikes, towing their children behind in child trailers.
The crash left the father and two of the kids critically injured, while the mother and their eight-month old baby were hospitalized in stable condition, and released a few days later.
However, the news about their five-year old son, Jacob Ramirez, continued to get worse; by Friday, we learned he had been declared brain dead.
Now KABC-7 is reporting that Jacob has been discontinued from life support.
The crash occurred shortly after 7:30 pm on Sunday, July 7th, on the 12300 block of Haster Street near Twin Tree Lane, when they were apparently run down from behind by Santa Ana resident Ceferino Ascencion Ramos.
Ramos fled the scene, but was arrested shortly later after he was followed by a witness to the crash.
He reportedly had a .22 blood alcohol level at the time of his arrest — nearly three times the .08 legal limit. The station reports he was on his way to buy more beer at an Anaheim liquor store when he slammed into the family.
He has been charged with felony counts of hit-and-run with permanent and serious injury, failing to stop at a hit-and-run accident with injury, and driving under the influence of alcohol causing injury, with sentencing enhancements for leaving a victim comatose or paralyzed and inflicting great bodily injury.
More charges will be pending now, including a likely murder charge if Ramos has a previous DUI on his record.
It’s also possible that the news could get worse.
The story reports that Jacob’s father, 27-year old Angel Hernandez Mejia and his seven-year old sister remain in comas over a week after the crash.
A crowdfunding campaign for the family has raised over $64,000 of the $100,000 goal, though it’s likely they’ll need a lot more than that before this is over.
This is at least the 29th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the seventh that I’m aware of in Orange County.
It’s also worth noting that reports have indicated none of the family members were wearing bike helmets, which are legally required for children under 18.
However, there’s no way to know whether that would have been enough to prevent their injuries in this collision.
My deepest sympathy and prayers for Jacob Ramirez and all his family and loved ones.
