PORT RICHEY, Fla. — A 7-year-old boy was killed in a deadly hit-and-run Saturday night.
Florida Highway Patrol said the 7-year-old was walking with his mother and siblings across Regency Park Blvd. when he was hit by a motorcyclist. FHP said the motorcycle was driving at a high speed.
ABC Action News confirmed with the boy's mother, Stephanie Radloff, his name was Marquel.
FHP said the motorcyclist left the area after the crash and continued traveling northbound.
Marquel was taken to a local hospital and later died from his injuries.
According to FHP, on Sunday, the motorcyclist turned himself into Port Richey police for leaving the scene of the crash.
The motorcyclist was identified as Shaun Wyrich, 19.
He was taken to the Pasco County Jail and charged with leaving the scene of a crash involving a death and no motorcycle endorsement.
Deanna Leiser, a friend of Marquel's mother, said she, as well as Stephanie and her children, were walking the neighborhood looking at Christmas lights. She said they stopped at the corner of King Arthur Dr. and Regency Park Blvd., and looked both ways before they started crossing the Regency Park Blvd.
“As we were crossing, this just big old motorcycle came out of nowhere and the little boy was just screaming,” said Leiser.
The motorcyclist continued on, leaving the scene.
“As we looked down the road he was rolling and the bicycle guy looked down and just left him there,” said Leiser.
Neighbors in the area say Regency Park Blvd. was an accident waiting to happen, saying they've worried about the high-speed rates of drivers for months.
“There’s a bunch of tire marks on the road now, and they’re using it like a drag strip,” said Josh Cummings, who lives off of Regency Park Blvd.
They're mourning the loss of 7-year-old Marquel, right along with his family. Several neighbors even started a memorial on the street where family members have been gathering throughout the day to remember Marquel.
On Monday, ABC Action News visited the memorial, which is growing.
There were stuffed animals, flowers, balloons and several candles covered from the rain.
“It was very sad. I actually heard the mother screaming from my house," said Lisa Namaga.
Namaga lives steps away from where Florida Highway Patrol says the motorcycle hit Marquel Saturday night and then drove off.
“My son is 9, he doesn’t play out here. He doesn’t go out in the streets. I take him to the park because it’s not safe," said Namaga.
If you would like to donate to the funeral costs for the family, click here.
