Memorial grows for 6-year-old killed in Pacific Beach hit-and-run

We now know the name of the six-year-old boy who was tragically killed in a hit-and-run crash in Pacific Beach Saturday afternoon.

Police said Hudson was riding his bike on the sidewalk of Pacific Beach Drive around 3:45 p.m. When he crossed the alley near Ingraham Street, investigators said a 32-year-old woman struck him with her car while turning. For several seconds, the driver stopped, police said. Then she took off, running the boy over in the process.

The boy was transported to a hospital, where he died.

Since the accident, people who knew Hudson and the community have been showing their love and support through a growing memorial.

They have also been asking drivers to slow down in his honor.  

An online family fundraiser describes Hudson as a bright and curious child who attended school in North Park, loved science, and whose contagious energy and spirit lit every room, adding that he had a passion for BMX, cycling, swimming, and building with Legos, and that he brought so much joy, kindness, and wonder to everyone whom he met.

“It’s absolutely devastating to learned what happened last night. I’m in shock learning about it. I’m so sorry for anyone’s loss,” Mark Johnston who was cycling by said.  

There are no words to describe the heartache this community feels after hearing about the tragedy that took the life of six-year-old Hudson.

“I teach this age. I teach 6 and seven years old. So, it hits my heart. I have 22 of them,” said another neighbor who asked to remain anonymous.

At the site of the incident, neighbors and family friends have stopped by to drop off flowers, messages of love, and candles to honor Hudson’s life and memory. While NBC 7 was there, people who knew him dropped off posters with photos of Hudson and his family.

“It’s so, so, so sad about the family. I cannot even imagine as a parent what’s happening to them right now,” Courtney Rogers, who lives in the area said.

Rogers said Ingraham and Pacific Beach Drive are highly trafficked streets, making the road unsafe for pedestrians, cyclists, and even drivers.

“They just need to have more stop signs, lights, warning signs, flashing lights, I mean anything that we could do,” Rogers said.

Mark Johnston, who rides his bike along Pacific Beach Drive about three times a week agrees.

“I think one of the major problems with safety on this road from my perspective is that there’s nothing to calm traffic between the major junctions,” Johnston said.

They hope Hudson’s memory serves as a reminder for drivers to slow down and prompts changes on that road to keep another tragedy from happening.

The suspect’s vehicle was found in National City at a later time, and the driver was taken into custody.

Police ask that anyone with information related to the incident call Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.

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