The Columbia Police Department’s (CPD) Traffic Safety Unit (TSU) is investigating an overnight hit and run fatality involving a male child.
The incident happened at approximately 2:30 a.m. on November 8, 2020 at the 2400 block of Percival Road.
Preliminary Information:
The 6-year-old boy was walking alone along the westbound side of the road when he was struck by a vehicle that has been described as possibly a dark sedan. After the collision, the driver left the scene.
EMS arrived on scene and took the child to a local hospital where medical staff pronounced him deceased.
Richland County Coroner Gary Watts, has identified the victim as Kayden Valdez (DOB: 8-2-2014). According to an autopsy, Valdez died as a result of multiple trauma from the hit and run collision.
The TSU continues to determine how and why the child was alone on the roadway and whether surveillance video captured the incident, including the suspect’s vehicle.
Police Chief W.H. ‘Skip” Holbrook encourages citizens with information about the incident to contact CRIMESTOPPERS in any of the following ways:
CALL toll-free, 888-CRIME-SC.
LOG onto: www.midlandscrimestoppers.com, and click on the red “Submit a tip” tab.
DOWNLOAD the new P3 Tips App for Apple or Android devices.