A man from Detroit who was suspected to have hit a child in Warren, Michigan road but went on driving to work was arrested, reports said.
The victim was identified as the 5-year-old Preston Singleton who was with his family as they crossed the street to go home before 10:00 p.m. (Eastern Time), FOX 2 in Detroit reported.
The suspect, who was not yet identified, was arrested by the authorities after he allegedly left his vehicle at a parking lot in Taco Bell while he headed to report at Chrysler plant in Sterling Heights where he works.
“It’s just like a bad dream,” Christopher Singleton, the victim’s father, shared to FOX 2. “It’s hard to comprehend. It just happened less than 24 hours ago. I want to wake up from this. I just want to hug him and bring him back. The kid was full of life. He lit up every room. He was so happy and just enjoyed life.”
According to Warren Police Commissioner Bill Dwyer, the suspect was running to beat the light and the victim was tossed nearly 80 feet.
The child was brought to the hospital but was later declared dead.
“He knew it was a young child and knowing that he continued to go through and go to Sterling Heights, and go to work without any thought, compassion or sympathy toward the 5-year-old victim,” the police said.
The incident was witnessed by the kid’s sister, 10, and a cousin.
“We were crossing at a crosswalk, which is the law, which is what we were supposed to be doing,” Rachel Draper, the victim’s aunt, said in an interview with FOX 2.
The man’s Jeep, according to the police, sustained damage related to the incident. The suspect also said he hit “something” while he was questioned by authorities, as reported by the WWJ-TV.
WDIV-TV further reported that the suspect will be subject to blood sampling for the police to know if he was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
