LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – It was a horrific crash Monday afternoon. Brothers riding their e-scooters to the dog park were both hit by a car. The older brother died, and the younger brother was critically injured and is still in the hospital. Friday, FOX5 spoke to their mother inside UMC.
“I can’t believe it. I cannot believe my son is dead. My Christopher’s gone,” cried Cat Velasquez, Christopher Soto’s mom.
Soto, 22, had his chihuahua Carmella in an animal backpack riding his e-scooter with his 14-year-old brother Carlos. Velasquez was at work when the crash happened, and her phone wouldn’t stop ringing. “The lady said, “Catherine?” Which that’s my name but I go by Cat. So, I was like, ‘Who’s this?’ And she goes, ‘You don’t know me, honey. I’m just calling to tell you that both your kids were hit by a car. They were on their scooters and…it doesn’t look good and you need to get here right away,‘” Velasquez recounted. Velasquez speed across town to the intersection of Torrey Pines and Warm Springs.
“I didn’t know if both my kids were dead. When I got there, they had all the streets blocked off,” Velasquez explained. An officer told Velasquez her sons were both rushed to UMC. When she arrived, a nurse pulled her in a private room.“She told me, ‘’m really sorry, but we tried everything, and we could not bring Christopher’s heart rate back.‘” Carlos was in critical condition. “So many bones, arms, legs, broken, fractured skull,” Velasquez revealed. Days later, the 14-year-old is able to communicate. “My son says, ‘Mom, I remember my light was green. We were we were doing what we were supposed to do,‘” Velasquez revealed.
Velasquez says she wants to know exactly what happened as the accident remains under investigation but so far, the driver of the car that hit her boys isn’t facing any charges. Regardless, Velasquez contends drivers in the Las Vegas area need to be more cautious as her son is the 39th traffic-related fatality in LVMPD’S jurisdiction in 2025. “It really hits hard when they tell you your son is #39. Your son is the 39th person dead in this city since January 1st… it is sickening,” Velasquez asserted.
The chihuahua in Soto’s backpack survived and the people at nearby Aloha Animal Hospital rushed out to help. They’ve been carrying for her ever since. While the family continues to stay with Carlos in the hospital, they’ve even taken in their other dog for now.
Velasquez says she isn’t sure when she will be able to bury Soto. She wants to wait until his little brother is out of the hospital and able to go to his funeral.
Here is information on a fund for the funeral and medical expenses: Fundraiser for Catherine Velazquez by Katie DuBrule : Support Cat’s Family Through Tragic Loss
Copyright 2025 KVVU. All rights reserved.
