Tragic Update: 5-Year-Old Victim of DUI Hit-and-Run Declared Brain DeadTragic Update: 5-Year-Old Victim of DUI Hit-and-Run Declared Brain Dead A heartbreaking development has occurred in the case of the 5-year-old boy who was critically injured in a DUI hit-and-run accident in Orange County. According to NBC4, Jacob Ramirez has been declared brain dead by doctors following the horrific incident on Sunday. The child and his family were riding their bikes when they were struck by a vehicle driven by a suspected drunk driver. Jacob’s mother, Angela Hernandez Mejia, expressed her anguish, stating, “Now I just think what could I have done differently. I would have even given my life for my son.” The suspect, 29-year-old Ceferino Ascencion Ramos of Santa Ana, has been charged with multiple felonies, including hit-and-run and DUI with injury. Angela and the family’s 8-month-old daughter were also injured in the crash but have since been released from the hospital. Jacob’s father and 6-year-old sister remain hospitalized. A GoFundMe page has been set up to support the family, raising over $52,000 as of Friday morning. Witnesses followed the suspect vehicle and alerted police, who apprehended Ramos approximately 1.2 miles from the scene. According to the indictment, Ramos had a blood alcohol level of .22 at the time of the incident. The tragedy underscores the devastating consequences of drunk driving. Our thoughts and prayers are with Jacob’s family and loved ones during this unimaginable time.
A 5-year-old boy has been hospitalized after he, his parents and two siblings were injured in a hit-and-run accident while on a bike ride due to drunk driving.
Jul 12, 2024 10:30am PDT
ORANGE COUNTY, CA — A 5-year-old boy who has been hospitalized since he, his parents and two siblings were injured by a vehicle while riding their bike over the weekend has been declared brain dead, reports say.
The child and his family were injured Sunday when they were hit by a driver suspected of being under the influence in Garden Grove.
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Earlier this week, the suspect — identified as 29-year-old Ceferino Ascencion Ramos of Santa Ana — was charged with hit-and-run with permanent and serious injury, hit-and-run with injury and driving under the influence of alcohol with injury, all felonies.
According to a report from NBC4 updated early Friday morning, Jacob Ramirez has been declared brain dead by doctors.
“Right now I only have the 24 hours that I begged them to spend as much time with him as possible,” Angela Hernandez Mejia, the boy’s mother, told NBC4.
Angela and the family’s 8-month-old daughter were also injured in the crash but have since been released from the hospital. Angela’s husband and their 6-year-old daughter, Gianna, remain hospitalized, NBC4 reported.
The mother said she plans to stay by her son’s bedside until she has to say goodbye. She told NBC4 that doctors performed a final scan of Jacob’s brain and, unfortunately, there was no activity.
“It’s just so hard,” Angela said. “Now I just think what could I have done differently. I would have even given my life for my son.”
A GoFundMe page to help the family had raised more than $52,000 as of Friday morning. The page can be viewed at www.gofundme.com/f/help-ramirez-family-overcome-accident-trauma.
According to Garden Grove police, who reported Friday morning that they could not confirm whether the boy had been declared brain dead, two adults were riding with the children in bicycle trailers in the 12300 block of Haster Street near Twin Tree Lane on Sunday evening when they were struck by a black 2003 Toyota Camry, and the driver left the scene of the accident.
“A witness in the area followed the suspect vehicle and alerted officers to its location as it fled the scene of the collision,” John Yergler, GGPD traffic investigator, said in a statement. “Officers located the vehicle, initiated a traffic stop and apprehended the driver/sole occupant of the vehicle approximately 1.2 miles from the original scene of the collision.”
According to police, the 27-year-old father and his two children were taken to hospital in critical condition.
The indictment alleges that Ramos got into his car in Santa Ana to drive to a liquor store in Anaheim to buy more beer. He is accused of having a blood alcohol level of .22, the indictment says.
Ramos did not enter a plea to his arraignment Tuesday. He was scheduled to appear in the West Justice Center in Westminster on July 25.
City News Service contributed to this report.
