A young, grieving mother of three whose family was tragically struck by a suspected DUI driver earlier this week who fled the scene, leaving her husband and two of her children in critical condition, is speaking out.
First responders with the Garden Grove Police Department and the Orange County Fire Authority responded to the area of Haster Street and Twintree Lane in Garden Grove on July 7 around 7:30 p.m. on reports of the multi-casualty hit-and-run crash.
At the scene, medical personnel found 27-year-old Angel Mejia and his wife, 25-year-old Angela Hernandez-Mejia, who had been riding bikes and towing their three children in carriers when they were struck by a motorist who fled the scene without stopping to identify himself or render aid.
“It’s crazy,” Angela told KTLA’s Kimberly Cheng. “I was a minute away from home, like, one minute and it happened.”
She was treated for minor injuries and released from the hospital. Her 8-month-old daughter, who was also injured, is expected to be released from the hospital soon.
The 25-year-old mother said the driver, now identified as 29-year-old Santa Ana resident Ceferino Ramos, hit her husband first.
“The car hit them first, which made Angel fly into the vehicle and hit the tire,” she explained.
Her husband, her 7-year-old daughter Gianna and her 5-year-old son Jacob were severely injured and remain in the hospital in critical condition.
Sadly, her son Jacob, who has had at least two surgeries for brain injuries, is not improving.
“If he doesn’t respond, then I can have him disconnected and be with him at peace, hug him and be there for him,” she said. “If not, they can leave him connected as long as they need to, but that can affect his brain more. I don’t know what to do at this point. As a mother, you don’t know what to do.”
Devastated, Angela is hoping for a miracle and asked that everyone keep her son in their prayers.
Immediately after the devastating crash, a good Samaritan followed Ramos and notified police, who quickly took the man into custody about a mile from the crash.
Video showed a shattered passenger side windshield on his car and an open, half-full bottle of beer on the roof.
“My mom said to forgive him, but it’s hard,” Angela said. “My son might not make it and I need to think positive. I’m not going to hate somebody, but it’s not fair. They shouldn’t be drinking and driving. I haven’t slept. I haven’t been able to eat.”
Ramos is expected to face charges of driving under the influence and felony hit-and-run.
A GoFundMe has been organized to help the family during this time.