Daijiworld Media Network - Brooklyn

Brooklyn, Mar 7: Tragedy struck a Brooklyn family on Thursday morning when four-year-old Zachariah Padilla was killed in a hit-and-run accident just minutes after leaving Brookdale Hospital with his mother. The incident comes barely a year after the family lost another son, Elijah Wright, 21, to gun violence.

According to police, the accident occurred around 11:09 am near Linden Boulevard and Rockaway Parkway. Zachariah ran into the street and was struck by a white Ford SUV travelling north. The driver fled the scene, leaving the boy critically injured.

His mother, Harmonie Wright, recounted the horrifying moments: “We were going back home and now I’m hurt. Not only did he hit my son… he ran him over.” Zachariah was rushed back to the hospital where doctors performed chest compressions for nearly 30 minutes, but he succumbed to his injuries.

Still grieving the loss of her eldest son, Wright said tearfully, “My house sounds silent. There is no noise. Why God keeps taking my children? Why don’t he take me?” She added that Zachariah will be buried in white because “he’s an angel.”

Police have launched a hunt for the driver of the white SUV, and investigations into the hit-and-run are ongoing. Despite her grief, Wright vowed to seek justice for Zachariah: “His name is Zachariah Padilla and we are going to fight and we are going to win.”