ESCONDIDO — A 14-year-old boy who was struck by a hit-and-run driver in the 1100 block of North Fig Street earlier this month died Monday at a hospital.
The teen, now identified as Angel Ornelas Jr., was struck shortly before 9:30 p.m. on Aug. 8, according to the Escondido Police Department.
Police are still searching for the driver who struck the boy in a dark gray sedan before fleeing the scene.
At 9:26 p.m. that night, a 911 caller reported that Ornelas Jr. was unconscious in the street and a vehicle was heard speeding south away from the scene, police said.
The victim may have been on a skateboard when he was struck, according to police.
Ornelas Jr. was taken to the hospital in critical condition with a brain injury. He died on Aug. 19, nearly two weeks after he was hit.
“We lost our beloved Angel today. We are at a loss for words to express the depth of our sorrow,” states his parents on a GoFundMe page that sought to raise funds for his recovery. “He was love, and his presence and smile lit up our home. We were with him until his final breath, and now our home feels empty without his radiant smile. We take solace in our faith, our love for our other children, and the memories we shared with Angel. He will forever be our baby. We love you, Papas.”
The victim would have been entering his freshman year at Escondido High School. His parents told NBC 7 San Diego that he loved playing sports and had joined the football team prior to the beginning of the school year.
“We should be watching him play instead of planning his funeral and saying goodbye to him,” his mother, Miriam Ornelas-Ponce, told NBC 7.
Ornelas Jr.’s family held a vigil in his honor on Aug. 21.
Anyone with information about the crash was asked to call Officer Paul Smyth at 760-839-4423. Police are asking anyone who may have a camera in the area of Fig and Lincoln Avenue to contact investigators.
The Coast News contributed to this report.
