On Thursday night, a young 9-year-old boy tragically lost his life after being hit by a truck just days earlier outside his San Leon home. Our hearts go out to his family during this difficult time.
As the sun was setting at around 7:30 p.m., Benjamin Dennis and his younger sister Savannah were getting ready to embark on a bike ride with a responsible adult. However, just before they could set off, a tragic incident occurred. Surveillance footage captured the moment Benjamin rode his bike onto 22nd Street, only to be struck by a truck making a left turn from FM 517. The impact of the collision was devastating.
Savannah recounted the harrowing experience of being right beside the road when she saw someone in danger. Without hesitation, she ran towards the road, shouting the person’s name and quickly pulling them away from behind a truck to prevent any further accidents. Her quick thinking and bravery undoubtedly saved a life in that moment.
While the incident occurred, the mother of the children was busy cooking inside their house.
Sarah Touchet, the mother of the child, pleaded with him to stay while continuously taking deep breaths.
Touchet reported that the patient was rushed to the hospital and soon after, medical professionals informed his family that he had suffered brain death.
Following a tragic incident, the young student from Lobit Elementary School was removed from life support on Thursday evening. In a selfless act, his family decided to donate his organs.
As per the crash report, the driver did not flee the scene and stayed there until authorities arrived. The report mentions that the driver came to a halt on FM 517 and turned around, but unfortunately, he was unable to spot Benjamin.
According to the child’s family, the man did not come to a complete stop before making the turn, as indicated by their surveillance footage.
According to Benjamin’s grandmother, Nancy Suffield, after watching the video, it was clear that Benjamin had no idea he had hit someone until it was too late. “You could look at the video and tell me he never saw him,” she said. Suffield added that her grandson was completely unaware of the incident until after it had occurred.
Just a few weeks before the accident that took Benjamin’s life, another tragedy occurred at the same intersection. Two individuals lost their lives in a motorcycle crash, and Touchet, who was at home during the incident, immediately rushed to provide assistance.
A memorial cross has been erected in honor of the victims of the crash.
Touchet raised an eyebrow and added, “As if that wasn’t enough already?”
According to the family, reckless driving is a persistent problem among motorists on a regular basis. Despite the fact that the speed limit is set at 50 mph, drivers tend to exceed it, posing a significant safety risk. In order to avoid further fatalities, the family is calling for a traffic light to be installed at the intersection. This measure would help regulate traffic flow and potentially prevent any future loss of life.
Suffield expressed his heartache, saying, “I cannot bring my grandson back.” He pleaded for assistance, requesting someone to step forward and aid in getting the matter resolved. “Please help us get this done,” he implored.
