A grieving Long Beach mother is demanding urgent safety improvements after her 8-year-old son was struck and killed by a driver near a neighborhood park over the weekend.
Jeremiah King Hicks was hit Saturday afternoon while crossing Paramount Boulevard near 56th Street in North Long Beach, according to authorities. Police said the child was taken to a hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
Investigators said the driver, a 27-year-old man from Paramount, remained at the scene and cooperated with police. Officials also stated that speed, distracted driving, and impairment are not believed to have contributed to the crash.
But Jeremiah’s mother, Monique Boochie, says more needs to be done to protect children in the area. Standing near a growing memorial at the crash site, she called for stoplights, speed bumps, cameras, and other traffic-calming measures along the busy stretch of road.
“This is crazy,” Boochie said while mourning the loss of her son. According to the family, Jeremiah had been playing with neighborhood children when a ball rolled into the street, prompting him to run after it.
Residents say the tragedy has renewed long-standing concerns about pedestrian safety on Paramount Boulevard, especially near the nearby apartments and park where many children live and play. The same roadway was also the site of another deadly crash in 2024 involving a 4-year-old girl.
Long Beach officials acknowledged the community’s concerns as traffic fatalities continue to rise across the city. Data shows 53 people were killed in traffic crashes in Long Beach last year — the highest number recorded in a decade. Jeremiah’s death marks the city’s 23rd traffic fatality so far this year.
Long Beach Police Chief Wally Hebeish described the incident as “a heartbreaking reminder of how quickly unexpected tragedies can occur” and stressed the importance of roadway safety.
For Jeremiah’s mother, however, the focus remains on preventing another family from experiencing the same pain.
“There needs to be a stop sign right here… cameras… or speed bumps,” Boochie said. “It doesn’t make any sense. Why is it always a kid getting hit or killed right here?”
