Tragedy in Phoenix: Family Demands Justice After Fatal Hit-and-Run of One-Year-Old Baby

Baby Dies After Being Run Over in Phoenix Hit-and-Run

Driver Fled the Scene

Family Demands Justice

The death of a one-year-old boy in west Phoenix has shaken an entire community and sparked a strong demand for justice from his family.

The child was run over in front of his home inside the Alta Vista mobile home park, in an area near 31st Avenue and Buckeye Road.

According to Phoenix police, the driver, identified as 35-year-old Carlos Rojas Mora, was driving a pickup truck when the child came out from the entrance of his home toward the street.

After the impact, the man stopped and got out of the vehicle, but instead of remaining at the scene, he allegedly got into another car and fled. He was later arrested after authorities received information about his whereabouts.

Court Appearance and the Defendant’s Version

Phoenix hit-and-run tragedy-Photo: Shutterstock

During his first court appearance, the case took an emotional turn when the child’s family confronted the defendant and asked that he not be released.

According to court documents, Mora told detectives that he left the scene because he feared the child’s father was armed and might hurt him.

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The defendant claimed he was on his way to turn himself in at a police station when he was arrested by authorities, a version recorded in the case files.

Prosecutors, however, told the judge that the man allegedly tried to flee to Mexico after the crash and requested a $100,000 cash bond to prevent a possible flight risk.

The Pain of a Devastated Family

The courtroom became the scene of the profound grief of the child’s parents and grandparents, who demanded that the defendant remain behind bars.

“It hurts me that he left them there to die without helping us when we were trying to run, and I just want justice for my son,” the child’s father told the judge.

The mother was even more forceful, declaring: “I hope they do not release this man. He is not even a man, he is a monster. He is a baby killer for doing this.”

Through tears, the grandfather also spoke and said: “He took someone’s life. My grandson was precious,” reflecting the irreparable impact left by the tragedy.

Legal Consequences and Authorities’ Warning

The defendant faces a serious charge of hit-and-run resulting in death, while the judge ordered that, if released, he may not return to the mobile home park or have contact with the family.

Authorities said the legal circumstances could have been different if the driver had remained at the scene and tried to provide help.

Police reiterated the importance of acting properly after an accident, reminding the public that leaving the scene worsens the criminal consequences.

“If you think you have struck someone, stop your vehicle, check carefully, and call police. We will come, respond, investigate, and we are here to hear both sides of the story and find out what happened,” Sergeant Lorraine Fernández said, according to 12 News.