Driver Sought in Hit-and-Run Crash That Killed 4-Year-Old Boy Surrenders to Police

July 12, 2014

At about 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 10 in Florence, a car ran a red light and hit a woman and young boy in the crosswalk. Two vehicles, a 2005 Chevrolet and a 2007 Nissan, were stopped at the light when a red 2013 Toyota first hit Jeronimo Zaca’s Chevrolet, proceeded to bounce off and collide with Antonio Moreno’s Nissan, all before striking the woman and child who were walking in the crosswalk.

The woman, 23 year old Brianna Puryear, was struck to the ground, while 4 year old Evan Butterfield, the woman’s nephew, and his push wagon were thrust 200 feet away. The Toyota reportedly stopped around the corner where the driver and a passenger got out of the vehicle and started to run away.

Spectators were able to capture the woman passenger who ran from the Toyota and remained there with her until police were able to arrive. The male driver has since surrendered to police, but his name has not yet been released.

Butterfield was later determined dead after having been driven in an ambulance to the hospital. His aunt, Puryear, sustain a broken leg from the hit-and-run and was released from the hospital the next day.

Only a couple of hours after the driver confessed, a candlelight vigil was held to commiserate the loving memory of Butterfield.