Mother’s Car Plunges Into Canal in Hit-and-Run — 9-Year-Old Son Found Dead Miles Away

In a tragic hit-and-run incident in California, a man allegedly caused a vehicle to plunge into a canal, killing a mother and her son before fleeing the scene on foot, authorities said.

A 22-year-old man, identified as Timothy Seth Chavez, has been charged with multiple felonies, including two counts of vehicular manslaughter, felony hit-and-run, driving on a suspended license, and driving without insurance. Chávez is accused of killing 41-year-old Martha Hernandez and her 9-year-old son, Adrian Hernandez.

The crash occurred just before 2 a.m. on April 6, at McKinley Avenue near Highway 4, in Fresno, according to authorities.

Chavez allegedly fled on foot immediately after the collision.

“The man showed no concern and no remorse, running away from the scene on foot, ignoring the consequences of his behavior,” said Liliana Perez, Hernandez's niece, in a GoFundMe account.

The GoFundMe account was created to benefit the other son of Martha Hernandez.

“My aunt and her youngest son were unfortunately left in a desperate situation," Perez added.

First responders located Hernandez inside the vehicle and rushed her to the hospital, where she died.

“They went to work, and they ended up pulling a female victim out of the car,” said Fresno Fire Chief Billy Alcorn.

Hours later, authorities learned that her 9-year-old son, Adrian, was also present in the car. Search teams launched an extensive operation, using drones and multiple search points along the waterway.

“The first responders were not aware that her 9-year-old son was present in the vehicle and was swept away by water, and was found miles away,” Perez wrote.

Alcorn said responders used local knowledge of previous recovery locations to guide their search. “They strategically placed responders in numerous different locations where we have caught people in the past,” he said.

The mother and son were headed home from an Easter celebration at the time of the crash. “Our Adrian was a very pure and innocent person. A son, brother, student who loved school and was always involved in church with his mother,” Perez wrote.

The older son of Hernandez is set to graduate from high school later this year.

“He is not only left to face the milestone without his mom and little brother, but also left with the weight to give his mother the funeral she deserves by giving her a service in her hometown and by transporting her to her childhood hometown in Mexico, where her closest loved ones await,” said Perez .

“The sudden loss has brought unexpected funeral expenses and living costs at a time that should be filled with hope and celebration,” she added.

Chavez later turned himself in to the Fresno County Jail on April 6, 2026.