California Girl, 1, Takes Last Breath in Her Mom's Hug after Hit-And-Run: 'She Died in My Arms'

When a one-year-old girl left her grandparents' house with her sisters to visit the nearby store, no one knew that she would never return. Moments later, a neighbor witnessed a vehicle speed off and decided to follow it.

Annaleeh Rodarte was a chirpy toddler who never missed a chance to pose for the camera. The San Diego girl loved to sing and was the light of her mother's life.

Little Annaleeh's sisters and cousins adored her dance moves and enjoyed hearing the tot giggle over silly things. The children loved spending time together, especially at their grandparents' house, unaware that their world would soon turn upside down.

Walking Outdoors

It was a usual day for a loving mother, Carina Rodarte, who was at work while her children were at their grandparents' house in the City Heights neighborhood. Like always, the kids were enjoying their Saturday evening when the unthinkable happened.

It was around 6:45 p.m. on September 24, 2022, when Annaleeh and her siblings left the house to visit the nearby store. As the girls headed to the store, Annaleeh wandered into the street.

Just when the tot's 10-year-old sister went to take her back to the house, a speeding SUV hit Annaleeh. Instead of stopping his vehicle, the driver pushed the pedal and sped away, unaware that a neighbor was ready to follow him.

The Little Girl

What was supposed to be a fun day for the Rodarte sisters suddenly became a nightmare after the hit-and-run incident. Neighbors soon arrived at the crash site, and little Annaleeh was taken to the hospital in no time.

A neighbor was in the street when the crash happened and quickly jumped into his car after realizing the driver was fleeing the scene.​​​​​​​

Meanwhile, Carina received the devastating news of her daughter's accident through a phone call and left her workplace to see her little one. She wasn't prepared for what happened next.

The Devastating Moment

Despite people's efforts to save Annaleeh, the little girl succumbed to her injuries. She breathed her last in Carina's arms while the devastated mother pleaded with the doctors to save her baby. The doctors said:

"We can't do nothing more. [sic]"

The Driver

A neighbor was in the street when the crash happened and quickly jumped into his car after realizing the driver was fleeing the scene. Fortunately, the man stopped the driver at an intersection and said to him while recording a video:

"You just ran over a little girl!"

The driver wasn't happy after hearing those words, so he sped off, probably hoping the police wouldn't catch him. However, the neighbor made a smart move by taking a picture of the Toyota 4-Runner's license plate.

The Punishment

When the San Diego Police Department investigated the case, the license plate's photo helped them catch the 45-year-old driver, Margarito Angeles-Vargas, who was allegedly driving under the influence that night.

The police immediately arrested Angeles-Vargas for DUI, felony, and hit-and-run. The authorities also discovered that he was driving with a suspended license. Carina said:

"I wish there was a death penalty in California, but you know how that's not happening."

The Girl's Family

"You have no heart to just take off and leave my baby on the floor," Annaleeh's step-grandmother, Serena Portugal, cried. Portugal said the horrifying incident had "ruined" her family. She hoped little Annaleeh would get the justice she deserved.

Annaleeh's sudden death also affected her cousins and sisters. They felt sad watching her singing and dancing videos. Meanwhile, Carina said her daughter was "the happiest baby" she had, and Annaleeh's cousin, Agustin Rojas, stated:

"We used to make her laugh. It's just heartbreaking."

Remembering the Toddler

Neighbors, friends, and family left gifts and flowers for little Annaleeh near the accident site. Annaleeh's sisters also visited the memorial site with tears in their eyes. They had never imagined losing their sister so soon.

The toddler's unexpected death alarmed neighbors. They urged the authorities to put up stop signs and build speed bumps before another child lost their life.

A neighbor, Jocelyn Jalate, expressed her concerns saying kids loved playing in the streets, so people should drive by as if they were driving in their own neighborhood. She also asked people to be cautious of their surroundings.

Helping the Family

After the devastating incident, Carina's cousin, Amanda Martinez, set up a GoFundMe page to help with the one-year-old's funeral expenses. She said the incident had "destroyed their hearts."

As of September 28, Martinez has raised more than $5,000 with 100 donations and aims to raise a total of $10,000. The donors also left messages of support for the Rodarte family.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Annaleeh's family and friends, who are dealing with the pain of this tragedy. We extend our deepest condolences to the little angel's family and pray that her soul will rest in peace.

Click here to read another story about a boy who was hit by a car on his way from school. His family had to make the devastating decision to turn off life support.