One of the teens seriously injured in a hit and run accident on Wednesday near Valencia College Lane in Orange County has died of his injuries.
Anthony Rodriguez, 15, died at the Arnold Palmer Hospital, after being struck by a hit and run driver on Wednesday morning around 6:35 am, while walking with his brother Miguel Rodriguez, 16, on Valencia College Lane in Orange County.
Miguel also suffered serious injuries as a result of the accident and was also taken to the Arnold Palmer Hospital.
Troopers said that on Wednesday afternoon, a retired Orange County firefighter spotted a vehicle that matched the description of suspect vehicle at a Publix Parking lot at Hoffner Avenue and Conway Road.
The vehicle identified at Publix was a 2001 Pontiac Grand Am with windshield damage and the front bumper missing, believed to be involved in the hit and run accident.
Troopers waited for the owner of the vehicle to return and detained Eric James Wydra, 29, for questioning. The car was taken to be processed for evidence.
The bumper left at the accident scene, troopers said, appeared to match the missing part of Wydra’s vehicle.
Troopers said that Wydra has not been arrested and is considered a person of interest at this time. Charges are pending.
A shame, 2 young kids with their whole lives ahead of them and one is now gone forever. Forever is the key word here! If there was another way, a different time or path they could have taken or the driver to have taken a different road. My condolences to the family of the brothers.
I go to school with the boys. Anthony was in one of my classes. I can’t believe he is gone! He was such a great guy. I can’t believe we won’t be friends. Everyone hears about these things, but you dont think anything of it until it happens to you. R.I.P. Anthony, I’ll miss you.