Family calls for justice after 8-year-old boy hit by car dies

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)– An 8-year-old boy hit by a car in central Bakersfield Wednesday succumbed to his injuries Friday morning. Ricardo Aguilar was walking home near Roosevelt Elementary School when he was hit as he crossed Bank Street.

His family said Ricardo Aguilar, the second child of three was aspiring to be a chef, he was outgoing and eccentric. The Bakersfield Police Department has made no arrests and said the investigation continues.

Ricardo’s tragic death is the 43rd pedestrian fatality in Kern County this year.

Stephanie Tyco and Karina Juarez are the best friend and cousin of Ricardo’s mom, who was too distraught to talk to 17 News on camera.

A neighbor’s surveillance video shows what happened, Ricardo is seen walking down the street, crosses, a gray sedan stops at the stop sign, then accelerates through the intersection, hitting him.

The best efforts of doctors in Bakersfield and Madera could not save him.

Both Tyco and Juarez say there needs to be more traffic safety in this area,

“It’s been a constant problem, and now taken something this big and this magnitude to do something. You don’t think this kind of stuff would happen, you hear about it, but you don’t think it would happen to you, until it does. Something needs to be done. Something needs to be fixed,” said Juarez.

The community agrees, a neighbor told us that they have been pushing the school district and the city for stop signs, speed bumps and crossing guards for years, “I would like a stoplight, at the most, a stoplight, like a said there is supposed to be a speed limit and they just keep going,” said Jessica Turango.

Councilmember Andrae Gonzales, who represents the area, was at the scene of the accident to pay his respects, 17 News asked him if the city would do something to enforce more safety.

“The city of Bakersfield needs to pay for crossing guards, it needs to have enhanced crossing guards at many different intersections,” said Gonzales. “Number two, Increase the fines and penalties for those who exceed the speed limit in school zones. Number 3 Put in a four-way stop, the residents are asking for it, let’s just put it in.”

The family started a GoFundMe to help with Ricardo’s funeral expenses and for help during this horrible time, if you want to donate to that, it’s linked here.

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