PALMDALE – Palmdale sheriff’s deputies are still investigating the details of the tragic vehicle collision that killed a two-year-old boy around 6 p.m. Friday.
According to a statement issued by the Palmdale Sheriff’s station:
“The preliminary facts of this investigation indicate that a 60 year old male Hispanic and his 2 year old grandson were walking east bound across Quito Way at the intersection of Apolena Way approaching the intersection. A 49 year old Hispanic man was rounding the corner of the intersection (making a right turn), when he struck both pedestrians with his vehicle. It appeared the driver may have been temporarily blinded by the setting sun.”
The child was airlifted to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead a short time later. The grandfather was transported to a local hospital, via ambulance. Details on his condition were not immediately available Saturday morning.
As of 11:30 a.m. Saturday, deputies had not released any new information regarding the incident, including the names of both victims and the driver. The incident remains under investigation by the Palmdale Sheriff’s Station Traffic Detail.
Update: [Sunday, Sept. 4, 2011 at 8 a.m.] The 60-year-old victim was identified as Fernando Rodriguez and the 49-year-old driver was identified at Juan Martinez Ruiz, said Lt. Brandon Sunday.
Update: The 2 year old struck and killed has been identified as Cyrus Cisneros.