A 17-year-old mother is facing felony charges after her 6-month-old son died two days after being ejected from her car during a crash.
Karla Lopez has been charged with reckless injury to a child resulting in serious bodily injury in the death of Sebastian Reyes. She was released on a $30,000 bond.
The crash occurred on March 7 at the intersection of Rock Island Street and Azle Avenue. Police say Lopez ran a stop sign and collided with another vehicle. The infant was unrestrained in the front seat and was ejected on impact, per DailyMail.
Sebastian suffered brain injuries, swelling, and cerebral bleeding, according to his grandmother, Casandra Rios. He was taken to Cook Children’s Medical Center, where he died on March 9 in the pediatric intensive care unit. An autopsy is pending to determine the exact cause and manner of death.
Lopez was treated at a hospital for non-life-threatening injuries before her arrest. Prosecutors could upgrade the charges to manslaughter or criminally negligent homicide. If convicted on the current count, she could face up to 20 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
It is unclear whether anyone in the other vehicle was injured. The investigation continues.
A GoFundMe has been created to help the family with funeral expenses. As of Tuesday afternoon, it had raised more than $2,100.
Family member Maria Meza wrote: “I hate that I have to make this for our sweet little boy Sebastian Reyes but unfortunately he passed away today around 6pm. Doctor try (sic) everything they could.”