Toddler Hit-and-Run Death
Man charged with hit-and-run death of toddler neighbor, attempted to flee to Mexico
A 1-year-old boy named Lupe Morales was struck and killed by a pickup truck outside his Phoenix home on June 2, 2024. The driver, 35-year-old Carlos Rojas Mora, did not stop. He fled the scene and tried to reach Mexico before police could catch him, according to WDTV.
Mora was arrested around 4:00 AM the next morning during a traffic stop. He was sitting in the backseat of a car heading south toward the border. The friend he had asked to drive him there turned him in to police instead, FOX 10 Phoenix reported.
A Toddler Struck and Left to Die Alone
The incident happened at about 3:30 PM near 67th Avenue and McDowell Road, a residential street in Phoenix. Lupe was playing near the sidewalk when Mora's white GMC Sierra truck hit him head-on, according to WAFB. Mora drove away without stopping to help. Lupe was rushed to a hospital in critical condition and was pronounced dead shortly after arriving.
Police canvassed the neighborhood and recovered surveillance footage showing the white truck. Investigators used the footage to identify Mora as the driver. He was a neighbor of the Morales family — not a stranger passing through.
Friend Asked to Help Escape Turned Mora In Instead
After the crash, Mora reached out to an acquaintance and asked for a ride to the U.S.-Mexico border. He reportedly admitted to the person that he had hit something with his truck and needed to leave the country fast, according to Live 5 News. The acquaintance did not help him escape. Instead, he contacted law enforcement and gave police Mora's location.
Maricopa County deputies and Phoenix Police stopped the car around 4:00 AM on June 3. Mora was in the backseat. He was taken into custody without incident. The Lukeville border crossing — roughly 130 miles from Phoenix — was his apparent destination. Experts say he was likely less than two hours from crossing when police caught him.
Parents Call Mora a Monster in Court
Mora made his first court appearance on June 5, 2024. Both of Lupe's parents spoke directly to the judge. His mother, Griselda Morales, did not hold back. "He's a monster," she said. "He left my son to die like an animal and didn't even look back," according to KXII.
Lupe's father, Arturo Morales, asked the judge to deny bond. He argued that Mora had already proven he would run. The judge set bond at $1,000,000 cash-only — an unusually high amount for a hit-and-run charge. The high bond reflected Mora's status as a maximum flight risk, according to WMBF News.
Charges, Legal Stakes, and What Comes Next
Mora faces a charge of leaving the scene of a fatal accident. Under Arizona law, that is a Class 2 felony. If convicted, the standard prison sentence is 12 years. Because Mora is a Mexican national with no permanent ties to Arizona, prosecutors classified him as a flight risk from the start, according to WTOK.
Legal analysts say the friend's testimony is the key piece of evidence in the case. Without it, Mora would likely have crossed into Mexico before police could act. Extraditing a suspect from Mexico is a process that can take years. Mora remains in custody as of June 2026, with the case still working through pretrial proceedings, according to Cleveland 19.
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