A quiet stretch of road in Fort Worth turned into a heartbreaking scene earlier this month after a crash claimed the life of a six-month-old baby and left his teenage mother facing criminal charges.
Police say the crash happened on March 7 near the intersection of Rock Island Street and Azle Avenue. Investigators later determined that the driver, 17-year-old Karla Lopez, failed to stop at a stop sign before entering the intersection. Her vehicle then collided with another car that was traveling through the roadway.
Inside Lopez’s vehicle was her infant son, Sebastian Reyes. Authorities said the baby was not secured in a child safety seat at the time of the crash. When the vehicles collided, the impact was strong enough to eject the child from the car.
First responders rushed to the scene and quickly transported the infant to a nearby hospital. Medical teams worked to save the child’s life, but the injuries were severe. Despite their efforts, Sebastian Reyes later died from the trauma he suffered in the crash.
Lopez was also hurt in the collision, though police described her injuries as non-life-threatening. After receiving medical treatment, she was taken into custody by officers.
Investigators later charged the teen mother with reckless injury to a child resulting in serious bodily injury. Authorities say the charge stems from the circumstances surrounding the crash and the fact that the child was not properly restrained in a safety seat.
For neighbors and residents in the area, the tragedy has left a heavy feeling. What began as a routine drive turned into a devastating loss that ended a young life far too soon.
Police say the investigation is still ongoing. Officials continue reviewing the details of the crash and have not ruled out the possibility of additional charges as they work to determine exactly what happened that afternoon.
