The parents of a six-year-old boy who was killed in a hit-and-run incident delivered heartbreaking testimony in a San Diego courtroom, leaving many in attendance in tears. Hudson O'Loughlin was riding his bicycle alongside his father, Matt, near an alleyway in January when Tiffany Sanchez, 32, allegedly turned onto the road and struck him.
Father Recalls Son's Attempt to Avoid Collision
During the preliminary hearing, Matt O'Loughlin testified that his son tried to swerve out of the path of Sanchez's vehicle. He described the frantic moment as Hudson attempted to evade the oncoming car. The prosecution alleges that Sanchez accelerated before running over the child.
Mother's Emotional Account
Hudson's mother, Juliana, tearfully recounted the aftermath of the incident. "He was blue, he was convulsing, I was asked to hold his legs down so we could keep him still," she told the courtroom, according to CBS 8. "He was struggling to breathe, his jaw was clenched." The 911 call was also played during the proceedings, adding to the emotional weight of the day.
Many in the courtroom were seen wiping away tears as the devastated father spoke, NBC San Diego reported. After Sanchez allegedly struck the boy, Juliana chased the car down the street in an attempt to note the license plate number.
Witnesses Describe Incident
A bystander managed to obtain the license plate information, which later led investigators to Sanchez's home in National City. Sanchez, who has pleaded not guilty, reportedly searched for information about the accident on Facebook and Google just hours after the crash. Prosecutors also noted that Sanchez tried to hide from investigators when they approached her.
One witness testified that they saw Sanchez hit the child. "We saw it stop and then immediately, the jeep driver slammed the gas to accelerate rapidly," the anonymous witness said, adding that it looked like the vehicle "bounced over something." Another witness, David Morrow, who was driving behind Sanchez, recalled seeing her "cut right into the alley" before running over Hudson twice. "Like, both wheels ran over the kid. She stopped right in front for about ten seconds. That's when I pulled behind her and got her license number, and then she took off," Morrow told CBS 8.
Community Remembers Hudson
Hudson was transported to a nearby hospital, where he died from his injuries. Police confirmed that Sanchez was not under the influence of alcohol at the time. Hudson has been remembered by family and friends as "a bright, curious child who loved all things science, and his energy was contagious," according to a GoFundMe page. He enjoyed swimming, playing with Legos, riding his bike, and had a passion for BMX.
As of Thursday afternoon, the fundraiser had raised nearly $100,000. His mother took to Facebook in January to write an emotional tribute, stating, "Being Hudson's mother was the greatest honor of my life." She shared that her son aspired to become a military scientist. "We made many trips to the library searching for books on science and the military. He proudly wore his camo backpack to school, with his tactical camo water bottle across his shoulder, already stepping into the future he imagined for himself," she wrote.
Legal Proceedings
Sanchez, who is out on bond, is due back in court on July 27. Her trial is expected to begin in September. If convicted, she faces up to 12 years in state prison.
