'Incorrectly Restrained' Boy, 4, Dies Following Whitewater Crash

WHITEWATER, CA — A young Whitewater resident recently died three days after a local crash in which he slammed his head into a dashboard, the California Highway Patrol reported. Matthew Fajarado was just four years old and was not properly restrained at the time of the wreck, according to the CHP.

The crash happened Nov. 6 at about 11:12 a.m. in the Whitewater intersection of Tamarack and Chaparral roads, just north of Interstate 10, according to CHP Officer Darren Meyer.

The boy was in a 1997 Ford Crown Victoria with his pregnant mother. As the two were driving along Tamarack Road, a 53-year-old Cabazon woman in a 2014 Chevrolet Cruze sedan blew a stop sign on Chaparral Road and made a left-hand turn onto Tamarack — directly into the patch of the Crown Victoria, according to Meyer.

Fajarado was riding in the front, middle seat next to his mom, "either with no seatbelt on or incorrectly seatbelted," Meyer said.

"His head collided with the dashboard, suffering major injuries," according to the CHP officer.

The crash happened at a "fairly low speed" and the damage to the vehicles was moderate, but the boy was severely injured and rushed to Desert Regional Medical Center before he was transferred to Loma Linda University Medical Center, where he ultimately died, according to Meyer. His mother did not appear to be injured, but she was also taken to the hospital due to her pregnancy.

A GoFundMe account has since been established to help Fajarado's family deal with this tragedy.

"Papas as he was affectionately known was a kid full of life, spirit and seemed to always make others smile," the page states. "He leaves behind 3 sisters Ally, Aleah, Alondra. As heaven gains an angel we are left here behind wondering why such a young life was taken from us so soon."

As of Tuesday afternoon, approximately $3,300 had been raised for the family. Click here if you would like to donate.

"My baby saved 4 kids lifes you will forever live on the biggest hero is my amazing baby boy mathew israel fajardo jr. PAPAS your the best thing that ever happened to me," his mom wrote on Facebook following the crash.

Meyer said it's unclear why the boy was not properly restrained.

"His injuries would have been minor, if anything, with a proper child safety seat like the law requires," he said. "We are discussing charges with the District Attorney's office and they could include gross vehicle manslaughter for the woman driving the Chevy Cruze and felony child endangerment for the mother of the child for failing to properly restrain him in a child safety seat."

California law requires that children under the age of eight must be secured in a car seat or booster seat. The only exception is if the child reaches four feet nine inches prior to his or her eighth birthday.

Image via GoFundMe