Mom kills her 1-year-old son with SUV, BSO says. She might not face charges
A 1-year-old boy was fatally struck by a vehicle driven by his mother as she backed out of the driveway of their West Park home, authorities say.
The Broward Sheriff’s Office identified the boy hit on Monday afternoon as 1-year-old Wilson Matias Jr.
Officials say he ran out of his home in West Park as his mother, Ericka Cante Hernandez, 33, was backing a 2024 Chevrolet Suburban out of their driveway. She hit him, and he died after being transported to Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood.
READ MORE: Two-year-old boy dies after he was struck by a vehicle in Broward, deputies say
While an investigation is underway, BSO spokesperson Carey Codd said Hernandez currently faces no charges, adding the incident appeared to be unintentional, and no foul play was suspected.
“It appears to be a tragic, tragic accident,” Codd said.
According to dealership websites and the manufacturer, 2024 Chevrolet Suburbans are all equipped with collision sensors, including ones that are in the rear and are meant to alert the drivers if objects, including pedestrians, are present. The vehicles are also equipped with backup cameras.
Codd could not confirm if his agency interviewed anyone else in the home. It’s also unclear how the child got out of the home.
Officials did not confirm how they determine an incident is accidental or a result of negligence.
According to Kids and Car Safety, at least 50 children are backed over in the U.S. every week — with two of them killed.
The family has posted a GoFundMe page for funeral expenses.
“No family is ever prepared for such a profound loss,” the page reads.
This story was originally published July 7, 2026 at 2:58 PM.
