Beloved Ladera Ranch Boy Remembered As 'Sweet'

LADERA RANCH, CA — Tragedy struck a Ladera Ranch neighborhood overnight when an 8-year-old was struck and killed while riding his bike, Monday, officials said.

Jaxon Ortiz of Ladera Ranch was riding his BMX bike just before 6:30 p.m. when an Acura driving on Orange Blossom Circle, failed to see Ortiz enter the street from a walkway, California Highway Patrol reported.

Ortiz did not yield to oncoming traffic, "and was struck by the Acura at that time," Reynoso said. The driver of the vehicle was going 15 miles per hour, according to the initial investigation, which is ongoing.

Ortiz was taken by ambulance to nearby Mission Hospital, but was pronounced deceased by emergency room doctors, Reynoso said.

A GoFundMe account was established Tuesday morning, and has already raised over $50,000 in seven hours.

The family has suffered an immeasurable loss, GoFundMe organizer Kameron Moody has said.

"We wanted to set up this account for unexpected funeral expenses and to allow them time off to grieve," they wrote.

Jaxon Ortiz, a 2nd grader, is survived by his parents, his 5-week-old brother, and a 3-year-old sister.

Support this GoFundMe for the family here.

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