SAN DIEGO — The two children killed in a police pursuit crash Friday have been identified as 8-year-old Malikai Orozco-Romero and his 4-year-old brother, Mason.
Brittany Phommavong, the boys' godmother, set up a GoFundMe page for the family including a photo of the children.
The crash happened off the 43rd Street exit near the southbound lanes of the 805 just before 6:30 p.m. Friday.
Police were pursuing a BMW, and the driver of the BMW hit the Honda the children were in with their mother and aunt. Phommavong said the family was heading to the grocery store to pick up snacks.
According to authorities, the BMW and Honda went off the road, and down an embankment. The Honda ran into a tree, the tree fell on top of the car, and the car burst into flames.
The suspect, identified by the CHP as 20-year-old Angel Daniel Salgado Velasquez ran away from the scene. However, police were able to arrest him.
Velasquez faces charges of Hit and Run: Death/Injury, Evading Police and Great Bodily Injury. He's scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the victims were rushed to the hospital for treatment.
Phommavong said the boys' mother, who already suffered from health issues, now remains in critical condition. She said their father, who lived out of state, passed away in December 2022.
Phommavong said Malikai loved playing football and Mason loved music and dancing.
If you would like to donate to their GoFundMe page, click here.