A 13-year-old boy, Angel Roman Mendoza Lopez, has died after a crash involving an electric scooter and a car in Pomona on Friday afternoon, leaving his family and community in deep shock.
The incident happened on April 17 on San Antonio Avenue, just north of Franklin Avenue. Angel was riding his electric scooter on his way to a friend’s house after school when he was struck by a vehicle.
He suffered severe head injuries in the crash. Emergency responders rushed him to a hospital, but he was later pronounced dead.
Police confirmed that the driver stayed at the scene after the collision and has been cooperating with investigators. Authorities have not released further details about how the crash happened.
Family members said Angel was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident, a detail they shared as they struggled to make sense of the tragedy.
His cousin, Karen Torres, described him as a kind-hearted boy with a bright spirit. She said he had just returned from a school field trip that day and even called his mother to tell her he loved her before heading out again.
Relatives also shared that Angel had dreams of becoming a police officer. He had participated in a cadet academy and loved playing soccer, passions that defined much of his young life.
A fundraising page has been created to help the family cover funeral expenses, as loved ones continue to mourn and the Pomona Police Department asks anyone with information about the crash to come forward.
