14-year-old boy struck in Escondido hit and run dies (original) (raw)

A 14-year-old boy died this week, 11 days after he struck in an unsolved hit-and-run crash in Escondido, police said Tuesday.

The teen died Monday. Escondido police declined to release his name, noting that the case has been sealed and the investigation remains under way.

A spokesperson for the boy’s family identified him as Angel Ornelas. A GoFundMe has been set up to assist his family, who wrote that his smile “lit up our home.”

“We lost our beloved Angel today,” reads an update posted Monday to the GoFundMe account. “We are at a loss for words to express the depth of our sorrow.”

The teen, who may have been skateboarding, was found unconscious about 9:30 p.m. Aug 8 on North Fig Street, about a block north of East Lincoln Avenue.

The driver remains unknown.

Lt. Craig Miller said investigators have “a vague description” of a dark-colored sedan seen speeding south, away from the scene shortly after the crash. They don’t have a make or model of the vehicle and don’t know if it was involved.

On the GoFundMe page, Angel’s family wrote that they were with him “until his final breath, and now our home feels empty without his radiant smile.”

“We take solace in our faith, our love for our other children, and the memories we shared with Angel. He will forever be our Baby,” they wrote.

Anyone with information about the incident was asked to call police Officer Paul Smyth at (760) 839-4423.

Originally Published: August 20, 2024 at 11:29 a.m.