Family demands justice after hit-and-run leaves toddler dead in Albany Park

CHICAGO (CBS) — Little Hermes Rios-Cardona was struck and killed by a truck in Albany Park on Monday, and his parents had a heartbreaking message a day later.

As CBS 2’s Lauren Victory reported, grandma Clerita Recto found the strength between wails and whimpers to deliver a message about her 1-year-old grandson.

“I want justice for him,” Recto said. “He’s so sweet, my grandson.”

Police said the driver of a pickup truck did not stop after hitting the toddler – who had gotten loose from his car seat and had ended up in the street on Pulaski Road near Wilson Avenue.

Hermes died from his injuries.  

“He hugged me, he kissed me,” Recto said. “Now, no more.”

Police late Wednesday said the pickup truck involved has been found, but had no further information.

“For the person who committed this tragic accident, please, if you have any type of conscience or heart, please turn yourself in,” added Hermes’ godfather, Khalid Jordan.

He added that anyone who might know who was behind the wheel of the pickup truck might be able to “convince them to do the right thing.”

Jordan said prayers are the best thing for the little boy’s family right now. They are also struggling for money to pay for the unexpected funeral.

A GoFundMe has been set up to help defray those costs.

Mom and dad have three other kids to care for – Hermes’ brothers and sister. They say they won’t forget how much their third baby – who was born premature – loved life.

“When he says thank you, he would smile – like the biggest smile,” said Hermes’ mother, Jocelyn Rios, “and to remember him? I’m pretty sure everyone will remember him.”

We are told Hermes was especially close to his mother.

“Pretty much really was a mother’s boy. He loved to be up on his mother,” Jordan said. “There was not hardly a time when I saw him that he wasn’t up on his mother’s hip.”

Family said the toddler was always smiling – a ray of sunshine.

“Even if it was raining, he’d still be out there getting wet playing,” said Hermes’ dad, Gerardo Cardona. “He enjoyed being alive.”

All day at the scene of the accident, people walked by to stop and offer a quick prayer. That meant a lot to Hermes’ religious family.

Chicago Police Department data show from January through mid-August of this year, there were 18 deadly hit-and-runs in Chicago – with only five arrests, or 28 percent. For hit-and-runs involving serious personal injuries, there were 203 incidents – with arrests for only six, or 3 percent.

Note, again, that these data only go through mid-August and the hit-and-run that killed Hermes is not included.

Contributing: Elliott Ramos