Grandmother Mourns Baby Boy’s Death

Carmen Lopez placed a handmade wooden cross and a small teddy bear at the crosswalk on Harvard Boulevard on Monday afternoon and bent to pray.

“Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name,” she whispered in Spanish.

The prayer was for her 4-month-old grandson, Ivan Eduardo Perez, who died Sunday after the stroller Lopez was pushing across the busy street was hit by a car.

“The car hit the tip of the stroller,” Lopez said in an interview Monday in her Santa Paula apartment. Her 11-year-old daughter, Abelina, and several friends huddled around her.

“I had my hands around the handle and then the stroller was gone,” she said.

Lopez was returning from McDonald’s on Saturday night when the accident occurred near 5th Street. She was only steps from the curb, when a car driven by Frances G. George, 75, of Santa Paula, struck the carriage.

“My hijo! My hijo!” Lopez, 46, said she screamed, before fainting in the street.

Lopez said she didn’t see the car coming because its headlights were off. George said her lights were on, Santa Paula Police Cmdr. Bob Gonzales said.

George, who has not been cited, told police she did not see the pedestrians, according to Gonzales.

He said police are investigating the incident as a possible case of vehicular manslaughter. “It’s one party’s word against the other,” he said.

The baby was taken to Santa Paula Memorial Hospital with severe head and internal injuries. He was later transported by helicopter to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital.

Lopez, who suffered a stroke six years ago, was taken to a local hospital, where she was treated and released.

The infant was pronounced dead early Sunday, about six hours after the accident.

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Lopez said goodbye to the boy she called “Gordito”--he was a chubby baby--for the last time. She took a lock of his hair as a keepsake.

Lopez, whom friends describe as a devoted caretaker, had been raising the child for a daughter who lives in Mexico.

The daughter had two previous children, both boys. One was removed from her care after the child suffered broken ribs, according to the grandmother. Lopez said the second baby died of sudden infant death syndrome, also while in his mother’s care.

“I wanted to kill myself and go with him,” Lopez said of Ivan’s death, before breaking into tears. “But I won’t because of Abelina.”

Before Lopez returned home Sunday, friends packed away Ivan’s things.

“We’ve taken away his swing and crib, his clothes and his toys, because they were too painful for her to see,” said Maria Vega, 25.

Now Lopez, who makes a living baby-sitting, is trying to raise money for a coffin and funeral for Ivan. On Monday, she posted signs on storefronts asking for donations. Her neighbors said they will wash cars to raise money.

People gathered near the scene of the accident Monday and shared news of the death.

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“Oh my God, that scares me,” said Gina Orozco, 17, who cradled her 1-year-old son, Armando. “My heart goes out to them. It would kill me if something happened to my baby.”

Sal Hernandez, 63, has lived on the street all his life. He recalled many accidents at the intersection of Harvard and 5th Street over the years. He said the neighbors once pushed unsuccessfully for a stop sign.

“A sign should have been posted there long ago,” Hernandez said.