Maria Araceli Pena, 48, died Sunday afternoon after an SUV struck her and a 4-year-old child near a soccer field on Las Palmas Avenue in Sacramento, police said.
The collision unfolded just before 3:15 p.m. in the 500 block of Las Palmas Avenue, near Las Palmas Elementary School. According to the Sacramento Police Department, officers responding to the scene discovered that a vehicle had hit two pedestrians. Witnesses reported to local news coverage of the incident that the crash happened in a grassy field where community members had gathered for weekend sports games, prompting the cancellation of a match scheduled for later in the day.
Coroner Names Maria Araceli Pena
The Sacramento County Coroner’s Office identified the victim as 48-year-old Maria Araceli Pena of Sacramento, according to reports from the regional news station. Emergency personnel transported Pena to a hospital with major injuries, where she was pronounced dead despite lifesaving measures. The 4-year-old child sustained minor injuries and was also hospitalized, with officials stating the child is expected to recover.
Driver Stays After Las Palmas Avenue Crash
Investigators confirmed that the driver involved remained at the scene following the collision. The Sacramento Police Department stated that the crash remains under active investigation. According to witness statements gathered by reporters on the ground, the driver was attempting to park when they seemingly pressed the gas pedal instead of the brake. Authorities stated that investigators do not believe drugs or alcohol were factors in the incident, and police have not yet announced whether the driver will face any charges or citations.
Coach Remembers Mother at Sunday Vigil
As evening fell, a small gathering formed at the crash site to mourn, including Gael Vazquez, a youth soccer coach who noted that the victim was the mother of the injured 4-year-old and a 10-year-old on his team. We don’t really know what happened, but we, as a team, try to come here and show our support,
Vazquez told broadcasters at the scene.
Sunday's collision also coincides with increased scrutiny over pedestrian fatalities across Sacramento. Traffic safety advocates and local organizations have raised alarms following previous city tallies, pointing to dozens of vehicle-related deaths in recent years that previously prompted municipal leaders to weigh declaring a state of emergency over road safety.
“Our cars are getting bigger and bigger, and we depend on them a lot. They’re almost like an extension of ourselves,” Isaac Gonzalez, a member of the nonprofit Slow Down Sacramento, said. “But these big cars, heavy cars, are producing more mayhem, violence and injuries than ever before.”
Isaac Gonzalez, a member of the nonprofit