PARLIER, Calif. (KFSN) — A 15-year-old boy was struck and killed Tuesday night in Parlier when police say a driver ran a stop sign and plowed through an intersection on Mendocino Avenue.
Police identified the victim as Juliani Moreno, who was crossing the street with his girlfriend, Mercedes, at the time of the crash. She asked not to be shown on camera but described the moment the vehicle came toward them.
“I was holding his hand. We were walking shoulder to shoulder here. It all went by so quickly. It was like an explosion, and it hit my leg, and he was nowhere next to me,” she said.
Residents and witnesses described hearing the violent impact.
Aerial footage shows how far the car traveled after hitting Moreno, while security camera video captured the vehicle’s speed just moments before it crashed into a flower shop down the street.
Parlier’s police chief called the incident one of the worst he has seen.
“This was a terrible scene. I’ve been in this business for 38 years, that’s its tragedy,” he said.
Police identified the driver as 35-year-old Tiffany Mercado.
Investigators said she was under the influence, though they have ruled out alcohol.
Cameras captured Mercado appearing unsteady while performing a sobriety test.
She is facing charges including gross vehicular manslaughter and felony driving under the influence.
“Down this street, you see kids walking every single day and families walking in the afternoon. People are scared,” said Hermina Mendez, who owns the flower shop where the vehicle came to rest.
Moreno is the third child to die after being struck by a car in Parlier. Loved ones and community members gathered to mourn him, describing the high school freshman as having “a heart of gold.”
At the crash site, candles were arranged to spell out “long live Juliani” as the community continues to mourn his loss.
He had recently transferred to Immanuel High School to play football.
By ABC 30’s Brisa Colón
