RIVERDALE, Md. — The family of 5-year-old Sky Sosa, one of two children tragically killed in a crosswalk accident outside Riverdale Elementary School, is moving forward with a wrongful death lawsuit against Prince George’s County after a judge ruled that the case could proceed.
The incident, which occurred in November 2023, also claimed the life of 10-year-old Shalom Mbah and left Sky’s father injured. He survived but sustained serious physical and emotional trauma.
Driver Pleads Guilty, But Civil Suit Targets County Negligence
The driver of the van involved in the crash, Olga Lugo Jimenez, has pled guilty to criminal charges stemming from the fatal incident. Authorities say Lugo Jimenez routinely transported children to school but had no official affiliation with the Prince George’s County Board of Education.
In addition to naming Lugo Jimenez, the lawsuit also names Ruth Mashell Santos, the registered owner of the van, as a co-defendant.
But the core of the wrongful death claim focuses on Prince George’s County’s alleged failure to ensure pedestrian safety near the school. According to the civil complaint, the intersection in front of Riverdale Elementary lacked an assigned crossing guard, a critical safeguard for young students walking to school.
“The position had been vacant for months, with no volunteer coverage,” the lawsuit states. It also alleges that more than 80 other crossing guard positions across the county were unfilled at the time and that interview processes for new guards were delayed until after the tragedy occurred.
A Family’s Fight for Accountability and Safer Streets
After the judge allowed the lawsuit to proceed, Sky’s mother, Laura Palacios, shared a heartfelt statement reflecting on the deep loss her family has endured.
“Every morning, Sky would give us a hug — now our mornings are quiet,” she said. “He loved building Lego sets, running around with his siblings, and making us laugh. He had this light about him that made everything brighter.”
Palacios emphasized that their legal fight is not only about seeking justice for their son but also about preventing future tragedies.
“We want accountability — not just for Sky, but to make sure other children get to school safely,” she added.
Systemic Issues Highlighted
The lawsuit sheds light on wider systemic issues regarding school zone safety in Prince George’s County. Critics argue that chronic understaffing of crossing guard roles, paired with delayed hiring processes, creates hazardous conditions for students across the region.
Legal experts say the case could set a precedent for how local governments are held responsible when infrastructure or staffing failures contribute to preventable deaths, particularly those involving children.
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