Patrick and Sarah Mahlke brought their 2-year-old son, John Warren Mahlke, to Scottsdale to watch season training. The young boy showed an interest in baseball and the family was hoping to make a tradition of it.
Their hope of tradition soon turned into a nightmare on March 7 when the parents and their son were waiting for a table so they could eat breakfast at a local restaurant. The restaurant had tables in a lawn area along Hayden Road, north of Royal Palm Lane.
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A 28-year-old woman driving an SUV lost control and jumped the curb. The toddler was hit by the vehicle. His parents were unharmed in the accident.
First responders and bystanders at the site tried performing life-saving measures on the small boy. He was transported to a local hospital, but his injuries were too severe. He died shortly after reaching the hospital.
The driver of the SUV stayed at the scene and cooperated with the police. Reports offered no reason for the driver losing control, but they did confirm that impairment was not a factor in the accident.
Right now, the family is simply trying to bring their son’s body back to their home in San Pedro. There are all kinds of red tape that they are trying to navigate through. They plan on buying a family burial plot so that they can all be together one day.
A friend of the family has set up a GoFundMe account. As of March 9, the fundraiser has collected $66,161 of the $75,000 goal. The family took to social media and thanked everyone for the outpouring of love during this hard time.