SNOHOMISH — Police have identified a man they believe was responsible for the death of a Snohomish toddler in northern California.
Samuel Andreyev, 2, was struck by a car on July 11 in a parking lot in Castella, a small town south of Mount Shasta. He later died at a Mount Shasta hospital.
His family had stopped at a gas station, and investigators believe the boy was following his siblings into the store when he was hit.
The California Highway Patrol recently finished its investigation, officer Kim Baldi said Monday.
Investigators believe the boy was struck by a Modesto, Calif., man, 79.
Evidence in the case indicates the man may not have seen the boy, Baldi said. The man was interviewed by police early in the case but stopped responding to investigators months ago.
Police believe the man’s actions in the mishap could constitute involuntary vehicular manslaughter without gross negligence, a misdemeanor under California state law.
The case has been forwarded to the Shasta County District Attorney’s Office, which will ultimately decide if the man should be charged with a crime.
The boy’s family still lives in the Snohomish area, Baldi said. They have been assigned a victim’s advocate.
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