SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — The Pacific Beach community is grieving after 6-year-old Hudson Stephen O’Loughlin was killed in a hit-and-run crash while riding his bike on Saturday.
The sidewalk on Pacific Beach Drive has become a growing memorial filled with flowers, homemade art and candles as residents pay their respects to the young boy. One candle read, “From one parent to another … I’m sorry for your loss.”
In a phone call with ABC 10News, Hudson’s mother, Juliana Kapovich, described her son as everything she could imagine — a fearless, confident child who was full of life. She said he loved his brother and science.
Kapovich said she and Hudson’s father were with him when he was riding his bike on Jan. 17. San Diego police said Hudson was struck and then run over by a car that was turning into a nearby alley.
According to police, the driver didn’t stop after hitting the boy and kept going. The driver, a 32-year-old woman, was found several hours later in National City.
“I just know it could’ve been me, my kids, it could’ve been my kid and it wasn’t,” said one resident who dropped off flowers at the memorial.
Another community member said the tragedy hits close to home, telling ABC 10News, “I live here in this neighborhood and have raised my kids here and I let them ride bikes all the time and that’s always my fears.”
Throughout the day on Sunday, community members from all over stopped by to pay their respects. Many didn’t know Hudson personally but wanted to make sure he’s not forgotten.
“They’re not alone that as powerful as this grief must feel everyone in this community who knows about this cares about them and will be here for them,” one visitor said.
Hudson attended McKinley Elementary School, and in a statement to families, the district shared condolences and said the district’s crisis response team will be on campus Tuesday.
The family has launched a GoFundMe to help with funeral services.
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