4-Year-Old Autistic Boy Dies After Getting Struck By SUV Following Elder Brother's Funeral

KEY POINTS

The young child was very close to his half brother
He sustained "severe head trauma and internal injuries"
His father described him as "the most wonderful soul in the world"

A 4-year-old autistic boy got fatally struck by an SUV following his elder brother's funeral in Queens.

The incident took place Sunday evening after little Domantea McDonald had reached his uncle's residence from the funeral of his slain drill rapper brother, Tysheem McDonald, 18, who was killed two weeks ago, New York Daily News reported.

Domantea was reportedly outside his uncle's home on 147th street near Foch Boulevard in South Jamaica when he broke away from his mother and bolted into the street.

Moments later, he was struck by a 2022 Toyota RAV4 being driven by a 32-year-old man, police said.

The boy was taken to Long Island Jewish Medical Center where he was declared dead after sustaining "severe head trauma and internal injuries," the police told the outlet.

"I just buried his brother yesterday," said Michael McDonald, father of the two boys. "I lost two kids. There's nothing inside me. There's nothing. I'm empty."

His 32-year-old mother also suffered a foot injury while attempting to save him from the car.

"She got hit with him. She's always behind him no matter what," Michael said.

Witness Janel Bonner told police that the driver of the SUV wasn't speeding. However, when the 4-year-old rushed out of the sidewalk and went towards the street, he got struck by the vehicle.

"At first the child was on the floor. The family was consoling him and then the child got up and hugged the mother," Bonner said, as reported by Daily News.

The Fire Department promptly reached the site and helped the child. The driver of the SUV remained on the spot for questioning and has not yet been charged by the police, as per New York Post.

Michael informed the police that he went out moments before the tragic incident to buy a new phone as he had lost his previous one at the memorial service of his older son.

"I'm coming back on my bike and I see all that. I see my son and [his son's mom] in the street," he told the publication.

The kid's father described him as a normal autistic kid, who would see things and run towards them.

"He would just look off — you sitting there looking in his face and he's looking at something right behind you."