2-year-old boy hit, killed by SUV

MUSKEGON, Mich. (WOOD) - A Muskegon child riding his tricycle just feet from his home was hit and killed by an SUV.

Family members told 24 Hour News 8 that 2-year-old Albert Medina-Rezo was the victim.

Police released a statement saying that Albert was run over by a Chevrolet TrailBlazer in an alley between Grand and Southern avenues and Sixth and Seventh streets around 1 p.m. He was pronounced dead on the scene.

Albert's family's backyard borders the alley, and he was riding his tricycle when the crash happened.

Albert's family was in shock Monday afternoon, but his older sister, Martha Sanchez, spoke to 24 Hour News 8.  

Martha, 17, told 24 Hour News 8 that their mother had told Albert and two other siblings not to play outside, but he had gone out anyway.

Police said the boy was pronounced dead at the scene, but Martha said their mother was with Albert in his final moments.   

"My mom said that she went over there and my little brother was still moving his eyes and he had like a lot of blood around him, his head. And she grabbed him and she said that he said, 'help.'"

Witnesses told 24 Hour News 8 they heard the accident, and then all they heard was screaming and crying.  

"Once I got close up to it, the back of his head was just open," said witness Cordaria Jordan. "Man, it dropped my heart. ... I ain't never thought I'd see something like that in my life. It was shocking. It shocked me real bad. It was crazy."

The driver of the SUV was a 45-year-old Muskegon woman. She was taken to a hospital to have her blood drawn, a source close to the investigation told 24 Hour News 8. Prosecutors told 24 Hour News 8 that a police officer would need to have a basis to draw the blood of a suspect, and that being involved in deadly accident would not be enough.  

Martha Sanchez said this wasn't the first time her family has spoken with the driver of that SUV.

"When she comes into the alley, she always drives really fast. My mom had already told her twice or three times to drive slowly through the alley because it's not a freeway."

Authorities remained on-scene more than four hours after the crash. Not long after they cleared the scene, Albert's family created a makeshift memorial with one of his favorite toys, a candle and some flowers.  

Martha said she and Albert were particularly close. She described a loving caring toddler who would run up to her and yell her name every time he saw her.  

"He was always happy," said Martha. "He was always a happy boy."

She said she hopes others can learn from her family's heartbreak.

"Because it's summer, I know a lot of kids are playing out there and maybe the little kids like Albert's age, they would be playing around," said Martha. "So people watch out, just to watch out if to see any little kid's out there playing."

Anyone with information is asked to call the Muskegon Police Department at 231.724.6750 or Silent Observer 231.722.7463.