WOODLAND, Calif. — A Woodland family is mourning after a two-year-old was killed Saturday evening.
Police said no one has been arrested or charged in the case, but the family is still searching for answers.
Woodland police said the two-year-old was killed after a truck ran her over at the 76 gas station along the 300 block of West Street.
Police said, when they got to the scene and spoke with witnesses, they realized another toddler, a three-year-old, was in the driver seat of the truck when it all happened.
By Sunday afternoon, pictures, candles and flowers were at the gas station to honor the life of Ailahni Sanchez Martinez.
"She was only two years (old). She was about to be three on this April on the 29th," said father Sandro Sanchez.
Sanchez said the family even planned a party for her third birthday next month, but now, they're doing their best to honor her short life.
Woodland police said, just before 4 p.m. on Saturday, they got a call about a child that had been hit by a black Dodge truck. Ailahni's memorial started growing short afterward.
"We learned that the family had transported the child to the hospital, and the child ultimately was pronounced deceased," said Sgt. Richard Towle, spokesperson for Woodland Police Department.
Through the investigation, police said the truck had a three-year-old toddler inside.
"The vehicle had been parked at a gas pump, and the child was unattended when this vehicle began to move and went to its point of rest," said Sgt. Towle.
He said witnesses saw the three-year-old in the driver's seat of the car.
Police said the father of the child in the truck was inside the gas station when the incident happened and is cooperating as officers investigate.
He was ultimately released without charges, a decision Sanchez believes was wrong.
"That person took a life from a little girl. Well, his truck was supposed to be in off and especially with the little girl, you know?" said Sanchez.
While police understand the family's frustrations, they believe there wasn't any intent to harm the child. They added a word of caution to the community.
"Just be careful with your children, and make sure you know where they are and what they're doing at any time," said Towle.
The case is still ongoing with many questions that need to be answered. Police said the incident will be sent to the district attorney's office to decide whether or not to file charges. There is surveillance video from the gas station of the incident, and police are using that as part of their investigation.
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