Tragedy in Koreatown as Young Boy Killed and Brother Injured After RV Crash Sparks DUI Arrest

Community Shaken After Fatal Collision Claims Life of 9-Year-Old on E-Scooter

A quiet Thursday evening in Koreatown turned into a devastating scene when two brothers riding an electric scooter were struck by a recreational vehicle (RV), leaving the younger child dead and his older brother hospitalized. The incident occurred around 7:30 p.m. near South New Hampshire Avenue and 4th Street.

Police confirmed that the RV driver, a 46-year-old man, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. The driver remained at the scene following the crash.

Siblings Hit While Crossing the Street

The victims were identified as 9-year-old Nadir Gavarrete and his 19-year-old brother. The two were riding together on an e-scooter when the RV made a left turn and struck them. Nadir died at the scene, while his brother was taken to a nearby hospital and is reported to be in stable condition.

Witnesses say the crash happened in an area with poor lighting and limited crosswalk visibility, adding to growing concerns about pedestrian safety in the neighborhood.

Eyewitnesses Describe Chaotic Moments

Locals described the horrifying aftermath. One resident, Candy Williams, said she narrowly avoided being hit herself moments before the children were struck. She described the driver as someone she had seen speeding through the neighborhood before.

"He almost ran me over," she said. "Then he hit some babies. He's always driving too fast. I asked if he was high and he just said, ‘Don’t worry about it.’ I told him he was going to kill someone.”

Video captured at the scene shows officers performing a field sobriety test on the driver before placing him under arrest. Footage also shows a scooter lying in the road beside a covered body, with a pair of small shoes visible beneath the RV's front tire.

Neighborhood in Mourning

The heartbreaking loss of Nadir has left the Koreatown community in mourning. A small memorial of candles and flowers now marks the site where he died. Residents remember the boy and his brother as kind and cheerful children who were a regular part of the neighborhood.

“They had a fruit stand and they shared their light with all of us,” said Wendy Cortez, a neighbor. “It’s not fair. They should’ve been able to cross the street. They should’ve been able to play, like every other child.”

Nadir’s father, Pedro Gavarrete, described his son as obedient and friendly. In a Spanish-language interview, he struggled to hold back tears as he remembered the bright spirit of his young boy.

Call for Safer Streets

Following the crash, residents voiced frustration over dangerous driving, poor lighting, and a lack of pedestrian protections in Koreatown. Several locals expressed concerns about vehicles regularly speeding through residential areas and the urgent need for crosswalk improvements.

This tragedy has reignited calls for better safety measures in urban neighborhoods where children live and play.

Support Pours In for Grieving Family

A fundraising campaign has been launched to support the Gavarrete family with funeral costs for Nadir and medical expenses for his injured brother. The community has already begun showing support, hoping to ease the family’s burden in the wake of this unimaginable loss.

As the investigation continues, the family and community are left grappling with a tragedy that could have been prevented—a stark reminder of the consequences of impaired and reckless driving.