A 12-year-old girl was struck and killed by a car Christmas night on the westbound 60 Freeway in Mira Loma after she tried to retrieve luggage that fell off her family's vehicle.
The Riverside County Coroner's Office has identified the girl as Eunice Flores. She was riding in the vehicle with her sister, cousins and aunt.
Her father was driving when luggage fell off the top of the car.
"For some reason, some of the luggage on top of the vehicle had come apart," said CHP Officer Zachary Wenger. "The driver stopped on the right shoulder."
Flores was reportedly running in and out of traffic lanes on the 60 Freeway, east of the 15 Freeway, in an attempt to retrieve clothing from suitcases that had fallen from the roof rack of her family's car, according to the California Highway Patrol.
"The sister exited the vehicle with her, and family members started to get out to tell them to get back in the vehicle," said Wenger.
The CHP says John Sullivan, 74, was driving a 1991 white Mercedes 300E at around 70 mph when he saw the girl, but it was too late to avoid her. Sullivan was not injured and he was not arrested.
Flores was pronounced dead at the scene. The Riverside division of the CHP is investigating the fatal accident.
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