A 67-year-old was charged with felony hit-and-run and second-degree vehicular homicide, police in Lawrenceville, Ga., said
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NEED TO KNOW
- A 3-year-old Georgia boy died after police say he wandered out of his apartment overnight and was struck in a hit-and-run
- Authorities arrested 67-year-old Rohitbhai Patel, who was charged with felony hit-and-run and second-degree vehicular homicide
- The child, whose family identified as a boy named Maxence, described him as “a bright light” and said “the silence left behind is overwhelming” in a GoFundMe created after the tragedy
A 3-year-old boy was killed in Georgia after police say he wandered out of his family’s apartment in the middle of the night and was struck by a vehicle in a fatal hit-and-run.
According to a statement from the Lawrenceville Police Department, officers responded to a report of a missing child around 5:13 a.m., local time on Sunday, April 26, at an apartment complex located at 287 E. Crogan Street in Lawrenceville.
While searching the area, officers found the child lying unresponsive in the roadway on Winder Highway near Stanley Court.
Police said officers “immediately rendered aid and observed injuries consistent with the child having been struck by a vehicle.” Despite lifesaving efforts, the child was pronounced dead at the scene by Gwinnett County Fire Department personnel.
A GoFundMe created by the child’s family identified the boy's name as Maxence and described him as “a bright light in the lives of his family, full of curiosity, laughter, and a joy that filled every room he entered.”
“He loved exploring the world around him, asking questions, and sharing his happiness with everyone he met,” the fundraiser states. “Tragically, this past Sunday, Maxence was taken from his loved ones in a single, unthinkable moment when he was struck by a hit-and-run driver.”
“The silence left behind is overwhelming, and his family's hearts are broken beyond words,” the family added.
According to police, the department’s Accident Investigation Unit launched an extensive investigation into the crash and used “law enforcement databases and other investigative resources” to identify the suspect vehicle as a blue 2008 Honda CR-V.
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With assistance from the department’s Criminal Investigation Division, officers located the vehicle at a nearby warehouse and identified the suspected driver as Rohitbhai Patel, 67, of Snellville.
Patel was charged with felony hit-and-run and second-degree vehicular homicide, police said.
Neighbors who live near the crash site told WSB-TV that speeding has long been a concern in the area.
Another resident, Makayla Mitchell-Warner, said the tragedy “breaks my heart, because it’s something that could have been avoided.”
“We need more empathy in this world,” she added.
The GoFundMe states that Maxence’s family is seeking help with funeral arrangements and other unexpected expenses following the tragedy.
“The pain of losing a child is something no parent should ever have to endure, and the support of friends, family, and the community means everything right now,” the family wrote. “Your kindness will help ease the burden during this difficult time and allow Maxence's family to focus on honoring his memory.”
The Lawrenceville Police Department said the investigation remains active and ongoing and asked anyone with information related to the incident to contact authorities.
PEOPLE has reached out to the Gwinnett County Fire Department for additional comment.
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