Pomona, California (April 17, 2026) — A 13-year-old boy died after he was struck by a car while riding an electric scooter Friday on San Antonio Avenue in Pomona, according to family members and local reporting. He was taken to the hospital with severe head injuries and later died.
The victim was identified as Angel Roman Mendoza Lopez. Family members told ABC7 that he had been riding to a friend’s house after school when the collision happened.
The crash happened on San Antonio Avenue, just north of Franklin Avenue. ABC7 reported that the driver remained at the scene and was cooperating with Pomona police.
Incident Details: According to ABC7, Angel suffered severe head injuries in the collision and was pronounced dead at the hospital. His cousin described him as a good-hearted child who loved soccer and had once hoped to become a police officer. The report also states that family members said Angel was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.
Public reporting has not yet explained exactly how the collision occurred, whether the driver was speeding, or what movement by the scooter or the vehicle caused the impact. That absence of detail matters because in child-scooter cases, the legal story often turns on a few seconds of visibility, speed, and driver reaction time.
Investigation: In a crash like this, investigators will likely focus on whether the driver had a clear opportunity to see Angel before impact and whether the vehicle was being driven safely in what family members described as a 25-mile-per-hour area. When the victim is a 13-year-old on a scooter, the central questions are often practical ones: how fast was the car moving, where was the child in the roadway, and did the driver have enough time to brake or steer away.
Investigators may also look at sightlines, roadway design, parked cars, witness accounts, and any nearby surveillance footage. The helmet issue may become part of the case, but it should not distract from the first question: whether the collision itself was preventable. In other words, the real focus should remain on how the impact happened, not simply on what might have reduced the severity of the injuries after it happened.
Legal Considerations: This type of case may raise two separate damage issues. The first concerns liability for the crash, which likely depends on whether the driver was speeding, inattentive, or otherwise failed to operate safely around a child on a scooter. The second considers how the head injury impacted the case outcome. Such cases often involve a blend of human empathy and technical legal analysis.
Depending on the investigation’s findings, Angel’s family may have grounds for a wrongful death claim. While it does not bring Angel back, it can help his family with the costs of his funeral, burial, and medical expenses, as well as the loss of Angel’s love and affection.
My deepest condolences go out to the loved ones and family of Angel Roman Mendoza Lopez.
Source: ABC7 Los Angeles