SAN ANTONIO — A young boy and a woman believed to be his mother were killed Wednesday night when they were struck by a car whose driver lost control while speeding around a curve, San Antonio Police say.
The mother was identified as 39-year-old Vanesa Ramos. The child is 5-year-old Solumen Lopez, a student who attended Canyon Ridge Elementary.
"We are in contact with the family and our deepest condolences go out to them," Principal Nicole Reich said in a statement.
San Antonio Police Department spokesperson Ricardo Guzman called it a "tragic, tragic incident" that unfolded on the 20500 block of Stone Oak Parkway on the far north side around 8:15 p.m. Police say witnesses saw the driver, 56-year-old Marlon Daniels, "going at a high rate of speed" before hitting the victims.
Natalie Ruiz who lives in the area explains speeding is an issue in the neighborhood.
"A lot of families walk here like almost every day, like there are schools, there are elementary schools, so hearing that a mom and a kid were killed, definitely is going to shift the neighborhood for sure," she said. "Knowing that that happened, I think everyone is going to be cautious and they’re going to be high on their toes on being able to just walk outside now in this trail."
Daniels was allegedly speeding in a 2015 Audi Q50 when he jumped the curb and crashed into a utility pole, according to police. The Audi continued driving before hitting Ramos and Solumen, who officials say were in the designated crosswalk.
Daniels was evaluated at the scene and later arrested for two counts of intoxication manslaughter. He remains jailed on bonds totaling $400,000, and is next due in court on May 7.
According to the Texas Department of Transportation, there have been 8 crashes involving suspected drunk drivers since 2023 on Stone Oak Parkway.
City Councilman John Courage, who represents far north San Antonio, said in a statement that the victims' lives were "robbed" by Daniels.
"Drunk driving is a choice," Courage said in a release. "Regardless of how much traffic safety infrastructure the City of San Antonio invests in this issue, without the commitment of our community to not get behind the wheel while intoxicated, everyone will continue to be at risk."
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