APPLE VALLEY, California — A little boy went out for a scooter ride on a Tuesday evening. He never made it home.
On August 6, around 8:22 p.m., a 7-year-old boy was struck by a vehicle while riding his scooter on Outer Highway 18 in Apple Valley. He was rushed to the hospital, where he remains in critical condition.
What made this tragedy even more heartbreaking was what investigators found when they arrived at the scene.
A Father Who Was Supposed to Keep Him Safe
The boy was not out alone. His father, 29-year-old Juan Mendoza, was there — supervising him.
But authorities say Mendoza was under the influence of drugs at the time his son was riding a scooter in an active roadway.
That detail has left many asking the same painful question: how does a parent let a 7-year-old ride a scooter on a highway?
Deputies from the Apple Valley Sheriff’s Station responded to the 21000 block of Outer Highway 18 after receiving reports of the crash. After investigating, they determined the child had been riding southeast along the highway when a car struck him.
Father Arrested, Child Still Fighting
Mendoza was arrested and booked on charges of child cruelty causing great bodily injury or death.
The driver who hit the boy stayed at the scene and is fully cooperating with the investigation. No charges have been filed against the driver at this time.
The boy remains hospitalized in critical condition. His family has not made any public statements.
If you have any information about this incident, contact the Apple Valley Station at 760-240-7400 or Sheriff’s Dispatch at 760-956-5001.
This story is every parent’s worst nightmare — and it raises hard questions about the responsibility we have to protect our children. Share your thoughts in the comments below.