Boy killed in Merced hit-and-run remembered

MERCED, Calif. (KFSN) -- Family and close friends of a 3-year-old boy hit and killed in Merced Monday night gathered in the same McDonald's parking lot Thursday night where he died. As it turns out, the little boy's death is the second tragedy for this family on the same street.

Jonathan Thao and little Santos Alvarez had planned to grab dinner together Monday night at the McDonald's on R and 13th streets. Thao says he grabbed Santos' hand to go into the fast-food restaurant but the 3-year-old wriggled away and ran around the car.

"All of a sudden he was hit by the vehicle and he was tossed off to the side, and the vehicle just sped up and drove off," said Thao, who is Santos' mother's boyfriend.

Thao immediately ran to the boy, scooped him up, put him in the car and drove him to Mercy Medical Center.

"The way I look at it, he was in serious, critical condition already. Why not just rush him to the hospital? Why wait? Because if I was to call an ambulance, he might...it's gonna take a little bit while," said Thao.

Santos died at the hospital. As other families drove up to McDonald's for dinner Thursday night, Santos' family quietly prayed and remembered the little boy who died too soon.

"It's like a terrible nightmare that we can't wake up from," said Juanita Alvarez, Santos' cousin.

While the little boy's death is a tragedy for everyone involved, it's been especially difficult for Santos' grandmother.

"My sister-in-law, which is his grandmother, she had a son that passed away, which he happened to be named after so they both had the same name, and they were both killed on R Street, and it's very devastating for her, for all of us, but more for her," said Marina Carillo, Santos' aunt.

Police are still looking for an older model white Ford F-150 pickup truck with a standard size cab that was seen leaving the McDonald's parking lot.

Anyone who has information that might help in this case is asked to contact the Merced Police Department at (209) 385-4725.

Santos Alvarez's family has set up a GoFundMe page to help with funeral costs. If you would like to make a donation, visit www.gofundme.com/GQJPG8.