RIVERSIDE — The family of an 8-year-old boy who lost his life in a collision at an intersection in Riverside has announced the filing of a lawsuit against the city and the driver involved. The lawsuit alleges negligence on the part of both the city and the driver in the tragic incident that occurred on May 16.
Obed Liam Barbosa Carbajal of Riverside died in the collision at Arlington and Stover avenues. The lawsuit targets the city and the 22-year-old driver, Andres Laris, involved in the head-on collision with the vehicle driven by Obed’s 25-year-old sister, Kially Carbajal.
The civil action claims that municipal officials share responsibility for the crash, contending that the city failed to implement a safety plan established in 2015 for the intersection, including the installation of a traffic light and other roadway improvements.
Residents in the area had reportedly raised concerns about the need for changes, with nearly 30 collisions, including three fatal ones, occurring at the intersection between 2009 and 2023, according to the lawsuit.
The collision resulted in injuries to Obed’s siblings and Laris. Obed’s sister suffered a broken arm and foot, his 16-year-old brother suffered significant head trauma, and his 10-year-old sister suffered a major brain injury, two broken legs, and a spinal fracture.
The plaintiffs are seeking unspecified damages related to Obed’s loss and the future economic impacts on the family resulting from the crash. The city has not provided comments on the lawsuit due to its policy of not making public statements on pending litigation.