This Halloween a local toddler, Dohntae Vasquez, was struck and killed by a bus during his first time ever trick-or-treating. The two year old had been in a stroller being pushed by a family friend when he had jumped out and ran into the busy U.S-27 street in Lake Wales after his chaperone had dropped his cell phone in the road and went back to get it.

Dohntae was running towards his grandmother, who had not yet crossed the street, ‘when the a bus from a nearby town struck and killed the child, police said.

The driver, 33-year-old Albertina Ramirez, immediately pulled over and told police she never saw the child dart out into the road. No charges are expected to be filed in what police called a “terrible tragedy.”

Memorials for the boy, featuring pumpkins, photos, and stuffed animals, sprouted up near the crash site as his family and friends were overcome with grief.

“We are supposed to bury our parents first, not our children,” neighbor Mary Brady told WTVT. “We would like you to continue to pray for the family and pray for healing for everyone.”

The toddler’s heartbroken mom, Ashley Vasquez, posted memorials to her deceased son on Facebook, writing “a part of me has died.”

The tragedy was one of several around the country involving young children celebrating Halloween. Three teen girls trick-or-treating were hit and killed by an SUV, the driver fled the Southern California scene, a group in Washington State was critically injured after a car jumped a curb and smashed into the celebrators, and a California man was killed while taking his young son trick-or-treating.

FSA Connection Questions:

1. In the article, why does the author includes other incidents similar to Vasquez’s?
2. What effect does the title give a potential reader?
3. Select the two best sentences that summarizes the article.
4. What is the significance of including a quote from a neighbor of the family?
5. What is the synonym of the word “sprouted” in the article?