Parents of teen killed in crash while riding moped scooter speak out

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- The parents of the young lad killed successful a crash portion riding his motorized conveyance Friday nighttime are speaking publically for the archetypal time.

13-year-old Dominiq Puentes died astatine the infirmary aft colliding with a motortruck astatine Bullard and Palm Avenues successful Northwest Fresno.

"His beingness was chopped truly short... helium didn't adjacent get to afloat truly commencement surviving it," said Puentes' father, Brandon Escobedo. "He loved his ma - helium was a mama's boy. He loved his family. He loved to bent retired with his cousins."

Puentes' parents accidental helium was riding a moped scooter with 1 of his cousins erstwhile the clang happened. The 12-year-old was near critically injured.

Just 2 days later, Fresno constabulary accidental different teen was earnestly injured aft crashing a pouch motorcycle -- besides known arsenic a miniature motorcycle -- into a car successful Central Fresno.

The incidents travel amid information concerns surrounding young radical riding motorized scooters and bikes.

Exactly 1 week earlier Puentes' death, Fresno State announced it is banning them connected campus travel August.

Puentes' parents enactment the decision, and they accidental it should spell further than that.

"Why are they banned connected schoolhouse sidewalks, but not connected these roads? These lanes are not large capable for a bike, an e-bike. This metropolis isn't large capable for e-bikes, oregon mopeds, oregon whatever," said Brittany Escobedo, Puentes' mother.

The metropolis says determination are laws successful spot to assistance forestall these types of tragedies.

"If it is simply a street-legal motorcycle, past they person to person a licence to adjacent beryllium connected that," said Fresno Police Sergeant Michael McCray.

And the caller crashes person raised questions astir parental responsibility.

Fresno County's District Attorney says for parents to beryllium held criminally liable; they would person to person been notified their kid was driving recklessly oregon breaking the law.

"Once those parents person those notices from whoever it is, a neighbor, a friend, idiosyncratic who mightiness spot them engaging successful that behavior, they truly request to enactment the lid connected it," said Fresno County's District Attorney, Lisa Smittcamp.

Puentes' parent tells Action News she did not acquisition the moped for her son.

"And that's wherefore I said no; due to the fact that the aforesaid motorcycle helium wanted took his life," she said.

"Police accidental some adults and children request to travel the rules, and I agree. Law enforcement should enforce those rules, propulsion our kids implicit if needed. Save a life. As parents, we'd alternatively spot attraction and prevention than judgement," Puentes' begetter said.

As Puentes' household grieves, they person a connection for different parents.

"Take them away. There's perfectly nary information successful immoderate of them," said Brittany Escobedo.

Puentes leaves down his parents and 5 siblings.

The household has organized a GoFundMe to screen his ceremonial expenses.