Boy, 3, Gets Behind Wheel of Truck, Fatally Strikes 2-Year-Old Girl at California Gas Station

Police in California say a 3-year-old boy was behind the wheel of a truck that struck and killed a 2-year-old girl.

The girl was standing near her family's taco stand at the edge of a gas station lot in Woodland when she was hit by a black Dodge truck during a recent afternoon.

The girl was transported by family members to the hospital where she died of her injuries. She was identified by her family as Ailahni Sanchez Martinez.

Officers spoke to the owner of the truck, who said he left it running at the gas pump with a 3-year-old boy in a car seat in the backseat while he went inside the gas station store.

While he was inside, the boy climbed out of his car seat and got into the driver's seat. The truck began moving and struck the girl.

Ailahni’s parents told KCRA they were setting up their taco stand when they saw the truck moving toward their daughter.

"I heard a scream and ran because I saw it going toward my daughter, but it was too late," said her father, Sandro Sanchez.

“We want justice,” Sanchez told the outlet. “I lost my daughter because of someone else."

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No arrest has been made, police said, adding that the investigation remains ongoing.

"He left the vehicle running and with a child inside," said Sanchez. "What happened is not right."

"Everyone involved has cooperated in this investigation," police said. "We are working to ensure a thorough investigation is completed. This includes taking statements, analyzing evidence, reviewing video surveillance footage, creating scene diagrams, and completing investigative reports. We ask for the community's patience while this occurs. The completed investigation will be forwarded to the District Attorney’s Office for review."

TMX contributed to this report.