A suspected drunk driver killed a 10-year-old boy who was crossing the street in Rogers Park this morning, police say.
The boy, Calvin Santos, was walking with his three-year-old sister Liliana and his father, Bulmaro, when he began crossing the street between two parked SUVs in the 6900 block of North Ashland Boulevard. That's when the driver crashed into one of the vehicles, pinning Calvin between the two.
Though Liliana and Bulmaro escaped injury, Calvin was crushed. He was rushed to St. Francis Hospital in Evanston, where he was declared dead.
"He liked to ride a bicycle, wrestling ... he was just a little guy, innocent," said Javiar Santos, a cousin.
Another cousin, Dania Santos, wept openly on the street.
"Alcohol was involved, so don't drink and drive," Dania said. "You just took our life away. You took my cousin' life away."
Calvin's parents immigrated from Mexico in 1993, according to the Chicago Tribune. They plan to have Calvin's body cremated. Police say the driver is being questioned by investigators.
The driver, 30-year-old Martin Candia of Rogers Park, was charged sunday night with reckless homicide and aggravated driving under the influence.
