The family of an 8-year-old boy killed by a reckless driver in Queens was left shattered the day after the tragedy occurred. One of the witnesses recalled his mother’s cries of pain.
Young Byron Palomino-Arroyo was involved in a traffic accident while walking with his mother in a crosswalk at 100th Street and 31st Street in East Elmhurst, and his 10-year-old brother, Bradley Palomino, was charged with a traffic violation. A driver of a pickup truck was injured and caused a fatal accident. Police and family members said Wednesday around 4:15 p.m.
The driver, Jose Barcia, 52, is currently facing charges in connection with the accident.
Mr Bradley, whose arm was bandaged from a wrist injury, said as he returned to the scene of the accident where a memorial was set up on Thursday. “My brother was always happy and cheerful. My brother [was] He always tells jokes to me and my sister. ”
“My son was very happy,” his grieving mother, Guadalupe Arroyo, 37, said of her son. “The teacher will say he is the best kid in the class.”
Arroyo said the tragedy is a “no-brainer” because the driver is currently facing charges including criminally negligent homicide, failing to yield to a pedestrian, failing to exercise due care and driving at an unsafe speed. You should feel sorry for him,” Barcia said.
Relatives said Byron was in the third grade and lived with his siblings and parents. He transferred from another school two years ago to attend PS 127 with Bradley and his sister, Sharlyn Palomino.
New York City Police Department Traffic Commissioner Philip Rivera said at a press conference Wednesday night that the tragedy began when the driver “failed to yield” to a family in the crosswalk and turned left shortly after the intersection light turned green. He said he woke up.
The boys crashed onto the sidewalk, and Byron was struck by the driver’s side front and rear tires, suffering the brunt of the injuries, police said.
Byron, a third-grader at nearby PS 127, suffered severe head and body trauma and was pronounced dead at the scene.
“He was lying [partially] He was lying on his side with his head down,” witness Jasmine Ortiz, who lives across the street, said Thursday. “There was a lot of blood around his head. [His mother] She was crying, she was screaming. Her detective took her away. She went to the hospital by ambulance. ”
“I knew he wasn’t going to make it. He didn’t move. The fire department came. They didn’t do anything to him. They just took him away.
“I didn’t hear any crashes or impacts or anything,” Ortiz recalled. “What I heard was [boys’ mom] I’m screaming a lot. She said, “My son is dying, my son is dying.” I ran downstairs. I took my brother’s hand and said, “Come, come to me.”
“I hugged him,” she added, showing her arms around her and hugging her brother. “I told his mother, ‘The boy is fine with just his hands.’ He wasn’t crying.”
“He was in shock. I brought him here,” Ortiz said, pointing to his feet. “I told him, ‘Sit here, stay here.’
Police say the driver’s 2005 Nissan Titan has North Carolina plates and has 19 total violations in the Big Apple, including speeding, parking and red light camera violations, from 2023 to 2024. It is said that it was carried out over the period.
According to police, the truck is registered to a Durham company called Barcia.
Barcia, a Flushing resident, was arrested in Queens on four separate occasions, in March and September 2010, and in September and December 2009, all in New York City on suspicion of aggravated unauthorized operation of a motor vehicle, a misdemeanor. It was announced by the police.
“I’m sad and angry about what happened,” Esmeralda Leon, a family friend, told The Post in Spanish. “[These drivers] It’s careless. They don’t follow the rules. ”
Leon recalled that she received a call from Byron’s crying mother shortly after her son was fatally injured.
“She was crying hysterically. He was crossing the road with his mother and brother…” Leon said, then walked away.
“[Bayron] “He’s a good boy,” she said. “He loved to play soccer. He wanted to be a soccer player. He loved Lionel Messi.
Leon said the family’s grief was compounded by the fact that Bailon died a few weeks before his April 8 birthday.
“His mother said he wanted a birthday party,” she said. “He wanted comics.
“He was so young. He could never reach [live] his life. “
Salome Lennis, 10, a fifth-grader at PS 127 and Bradley’s best friend, described Byron as “very kind.”
“He was a very sweet kid and was just starting to make friends, but he was part of the community,” Salome said. “It’s so tragic, so sad. Things like this don’t happen every day, but he was just a little boy and I feel so sorry for him. He deserves a better player. He was a player.”
The driver’s arraignment was adjourned until Thursday evening.
Meanwhile, the family sought help from the Mexican Consulate General.
“Early Thursday morning, unfortunately, we learned that Mexican nationals were involved, and we immediately contacted them and subsequently welcomed the parents into consular facilities,” Jorge Islas López, Mexico’s Consul General in New York, said in a statement. Ta. “We extend our deepest condolences to them and have provided them with all necessary consular and legal advice, as well as any support within our reach.
“One of our consular staff accompanies the family to assist them, providing ongoing support and guidance during every step of the necessary process with both city authorities and funeral directors,” he said. added.
“Finally, the Consulate General will do whatever it takes to bring justice to Mr. Byron’s family. There must be no impunity.”
