Family of Cordae Austin tells KLBK and EverythingLubbock.com that their nine year old died after serious injuries from a hit and run accident on July 8.
Lubbock Police said at approximately 11:08 p.m. patrol officers were called to the intersection of 38th Street and Avenue P where they found a 2002 Chevy Suburban ran a stop sign heading north on Avenue P and hit a Chevy Tahoe that was heading east on 38th Street.
LPD said the Chevy Tahoe had five people in the car at the time it was hit. Two of them were children and taken to UMC with serious injuries, Cordae at age nine and his younger brother at age seven. The remaining occupants were uninjured.
Cordae’s Aunt Kristi Hill drove to the scene.
“There was kids everywhere, kids were bleeding, kids were screaming, it was a scary movie it was unreal,” Hill said.
Hill is a nurse at Lubbock Hospitality House and said she has never seen anything like this. “This is horrible,” Hill said. “Everything I knew went out the window. I couldn’t help. I just was just there at that time. I couldn’t believe that it was my family.”
LPD said the driver of the Chevy Tahoe got out of her vehicle and fled the scene on foot, failing to stop and render aid. Officers found her shortly after at her residence. Police identified her as Bernarda Sandoval and she was uninjured from the crash.
Police said she was arrested and transported to the Lubbock County Detention Facility.
Police said this is an open investigation and Cordae’s death could influence the case and possibly charges on Sandoval.
Cordae’s family said he passed away at the hospital Monday. His younger brother now needs rehabilitation.
With these new, sudden expenses, they’re asking for help.
Hill set up a Go Fund Me account to go towards funeral and rehab expenses. They said they have a goal of $30,000
“When I found out that there was no insurance I wanted my nephew to be able to get the best rehab possible. We knew there wasn’t one in Lubbock so he was going to have to be transported,” Hill said.
The donation page can be found here.
