Desert Hot Springs Boy Taken Off Life Support

Residents at the Palm Drive Mobile Estates couldn’t believe the neighborhood kid who was hit by a car Thursday night had died.

“I’m trying to hold tears because it’s really hard for me because I knew him,” said neighbor Maria Aguilar. “He was like a little brother I never had.”

Aguilar said the boy’s name was Sebastian. His family lived in unit #17. Aguilar hadn’t seen the family since the accident.

Police said Sebastian’s life support was pulled overnight at Loma Linda University Medical Center.

“The paramedics said he was unconscious, and I just thought he’d wake up,” said Aguilar, who used to babysit the boy. “I was hoping he would.”

According to police, Sebastian was crossing Palm Dr. ahead of his father and other people who were with him at the time. He was not wearing a helmet when a car hit him around 8:45 p.m.

The accident happened across the street from where Carissa Nwene was killed in 2007. She was walking to school when she was hit by a van and left for dead.

Despite the congestion along Palm Dr., it’s not unusual to see people crossing or walking on the side of the road.

News Channel 3 spotted Kenneth Kincaid and his family doing just that. They moved to the area recently.

Kincaid said he tells his kids to be careful.

“Just stay right behind us. Follow our footsteps exactly,” he said. “Stay in a single file line because if you veer out a little bit, it’s very likely you could get hit.”

Maria Aguilar said children riding their bikes without their helmets was a growing concern. Her family told mobile home park management about it to warn the other parents.

The driver of the vehicle stayed at the scene and cooperated with investigators. Police said it appeared the driver was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs.