8-year-old dies after serious crash in Pueblo on Thursday

PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) -- Pueblo police officers say a boy died after a car crash Thursday at the intersection of Northern Avenue and Santa Fe Drive.

The Pueblo County coroner identified the child as 8-year-old Eric "Mikey" Maciel Jr., who died as a result of his injuries during the collision.

Officers responded just before 5 p.m. to a serious vehicle accident with reports of a passenger being ejected.

Police say an SUV with a single occupant was traveling eastbound on Santa Fe Drive when another car traveling westbound tried to turn south on Northern Avenue.

The westbound car had an adult female and her young son Maciel inside when they struck the eastbound SUV. Investigators say the car rolled and Maciel was ejected. Paramedics transported the child to a local hospital where he died from his injuries. The drivers of both vehicles sustained minor injuries.

Police confirmed with KRDO they believe the little boy took his seatbelt off to help his sick dog. They say the crash happened when his mother turned around to tell him to buckle back up.

Police are still investigating but say neither speed nor drugs appear to be factors in this fatal accident.