An 8-year-old boy who was riding a stand-up electric scooter when he was fatally struck by a vehicle in Chula Vista over the weekend has been identified.
Mattviel Rodriguez died shortly after officers received a call just before 2:15 p.m. Saturday of a crash in a condo parking lot off Tango Road in the city’s Otay Ranch neighborhood, investigators said.
Officers said the boy was riding a scooter when he was struck by a vehicle and pinned underneath it. Bystanders then used a hydraulic jack to lift the vehicle off the child.
He died shortly after he arrived at Rady’s Children Hospital, police spokesperson Anthony Molina said.
The driver, a man in his 50s, stayed at the scene and cooperated with officers, Molina said.
One GoFundMe campaign said Mattviel would be remembered for his “fun-loving spirit, kind heart, and deep love for baseball.”
“His bright presence touched so many lives, and he will forever live on in our hearts,” the organizer, Jessica Aguirre, wrote.
Another fundraiser, organized by Alisa Padilla, described Mattviel as a “beloved 8-year-old son, grandson, nephew” who was affectionately known as “Chubby.”
“He was a bright light in the lives of everyone who knew him — full of laughter, always smiling, and a passion for baseball,” Padilla said. “His passing has left a deep void in the hearts of his family and community.”
The two pages had raised more than $50,000 to help the family cover funeral expenses and any additional financial costs.
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