Memorial Service For Tulsa Auto-Ped Accident Victim

Saying goodbye to an 11-year-old Tulsa boy and getting the facts about how he died. <br/><br/>News on 6 crime reporter Lori Fullbright says family and friends held a memorial service for Fabian Saenz

Monday, September 18th 2006, 6:06 am

By: News On 6

Saying goodbye to an 11-year-old Tulsa boy and getting the facts about how he died.

News on 6 crime reporter Lori Fullbright says family and friends held a memorial service for Fabian Saenz Monday. He was killed while mowing his yard last week, by an underage driver who was speeding through the neighborhood.

The News on 6 now has new information about the investigation into the accident.

The church was full as friends, family and even some strangers, said good-bye to a little boy who was a brother, a Sunday school member and a soccer player.

Fabian's parents thanked everyone for all the cards and support. "I'm trying to be strong. Thank you so much." While the family is consumed with grief, the community is outraged that this little boy is dead at all.

A Tulsa Police report says five children were in the car that hit Fabian. A 15-year old girl was driving; her 14-year-old brother was in the car along with their 6-year-old cousin and two friends, 15 and 16. Tulsa Police say the 14-year-old boy's aunt had given him permission to drive the car, and then everyone, except the 6-year-old, took turns driving. His sister was the last one to take a turn and was going 60 miles an hour in a 25 mile an hour zone when she lost control and crashed into Fabian Saenz.

Tulsa Police officer Scott Walton: "It's alarming when we hear someone has provided kids of this age, who under the best of circumstances, shouldn't be expected to have responsibility to drive in a safe and prudent manner. It should be no surprise that an outcome like this is possible."

All five kids got out of the car unhurt and ran to relatives' homes and told what happened. One of them said, "she killed a little boy, we didn't mean to kill him." The driver and the aunt could both face charges.

Both the girl and her aunt both had court hearings Monday, but we don't yet know what happened.

The girl's stepfather told the News on 6, the girl and her mother are both devastated and the whole family is very sorry for Fabian's death. He says they have repeatedly asked this aunt not to let the children drive. They say the girl and her brother are good kids, they just made a horrible mistake.

A fund has been set up for the family of Fabian Saenz. Donations can be made to the Fabian Saenz account at any Arvest Bank in the Tulsa area.