A child who was allegedly abandoned after a car accident last week has died, according to Rady Children’s Hospital.
Valentino Fabiani, 4, was in the car last week when his father Angelo Fabiani Arroyo, 40, rolled his black Nissan Titan truck off Interstate 5 near Old Town San Diego. The car veered off the road near Rosecrans Street, landing on its side on an embankment along Jefferson Street.
Arroyo is accused of abandoning the child, after he reportedly ran away moments after the crash. He later returned to the wreckage, where witnesses said the boy was partially ejected from the truck. California Highway Patrol officers said Arroyo then ran off a second time.
He was later arrested and appeared in court last week.
Valentino’s mother issued a statement Tuesday afternoon, saying:
“I am deeply saddened that Valentino has passed away from injuries sustained in the auto accident. My precious angel Valentino will forever live on in the memory of those who were blessed to have met him or know him.”
She also asked for privacy while the family grieves and said donations can be made to the Valentino Memorial Fund at Chase Bank, routing number 425127631.