A toddler wandered off last night and was struck and killed by a car

This might the most horrific story we have ever reported.  A little boy, only 2 years of age, somehow wandered off and left the safety of his home, at the 800 block of South Newhope Street, at about 10 p.m. on Saturday night.  Sadly this story has a most unhappy ending.

The little boy was struck by a Toyota Camry, according to the O.C. Register.

The toddler was taken to a local hospital, where his parents joined him at his bedside, but he did not survive.

The driver who hit him did not take off afterwards.  The police spoke to him and found he was not intoxicated and it did not appear that he was speeding.  The driver was not cited – and I would imagine he feels awful about what happened.

The little wayward toddler apparently just walked into the street – into the path of the Camry.

This incident happened in Santa Ana’s Ward 6, which is represented on the City Council by Councilman Sal Tinajero.

Here is the SAPD’s press release about this awful incident:

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: Fatal Collision Investigation- Vehicle vs Pedestrian (2 year old Toddler)

Fatal Collision Investigation- Vehicle vs Pedestrian (2 year old Toddler)

On 3/14/15 at 2154 hours, officers responded to a report of a small child who had been struck by a vehicle in the area of 800 S. Newhope Street. Officers located the male toddler lying in the roadway at the intersection of Newhope and Flight Streets.

The child had been struck by a white Toyota Camry traveling north on Newhope in the #1 lane. The driver remained at the scene and was cooperative throughout the investigation. Intoxication did not appear to be a factor in the collision. There is no indication that speed was a factor in this collision. The driver indicated he did not see the toddler on the roadway prior to the collision.

It appears the toddler managed to wander from a residence located one block away and to the intersection of Newhope and Flight where he entered the roadway and was struck by the vehicle. The child was struck outside of any adjacent crosswalk.

Orange County Fire Authority responded to the scene and transported the child to an area hospital where he later succumbed to injuries sustained in the collision.

This collision remains under investigation and any person who may have witnessed the collision is asked to call Investigator Hadley at (714) 245-8216.

###