5-year-old declared brain dead after suspected DUI driver hits family on bike ride

Jacob Ramirez, 5, suffered critical injuries when he was hit by a vehicle while he was riding his bike with his family, (GoFundMe)

Garden Grove, Calif.

A 5-year-old California boy has been reportedly declared brain dead after he and his family were hit by a suspected drunken driver while they were riding bikes last weekend.

KABC reports Jacob Ramirez was rushed to a hospital along with his two siblings and his parents after a driver of a 2003 Toyota Camry hit them Sunday night.

Jacob was with his father Angel Ramirez, 27, his mother Angela Hernandez Mejia, 25, and his 7-year-old and 7-month-old sisters when the reported collision occurred.

Garden Grove police said Angel Ramirez, Jacob and the 7-year-old child were taken to the hospital with critical injuries.

Mejia and her 7-month-old daughter were hospitalized with stable vital signs before the mother was released.

“We were struck by a drunk driver, my 3 kids, their dad, and me. We were rushed to the hospital. My daughter Gianna is doing better and breathing on ventilation,” Mejia shared through a GoFundMe account. “Please pray and keep my kids (Gianna, Jacob, Lydia, and Angel) in your prayers!!! My son Jacob Ramirez has been in 2 surgeries and has a really bad brain injury and is not responding.”

Ceferino Ramos, 29, of Santa Ana was arrested in connection with the crash, KNBC reports.

According to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, Ramos’ blood alcohol content was nearly triple the legal limit and two of the victims in the crash were comatose due to brain injuries.

Ramos is facing charges that include driving under the influence causing bodily injury and hit-and-run with permanent injury or death.

The 27-year-old was reportedly arrested thanks to a good Samaritan following him as he attempted to leave the scene after the crash.

Ramos is scheduled to be arraigned July 25 in the West Justice Center.

Video shows moment police find boy in stolen SUV after mother killed in carjacking

Police shared body-camera video when officers found a boy inside his mother's SUV after it was stolen. (Columbus police)

Columbus, Ohio

Columbus police released body camera video showing the moment they found a boy inside his mother’s SUV after it was stolen.

WSYX reports it obtained the video on Friday, a day after the 6-year-old’s mother died in the carjacking.

Authorities said the situation started when the child’s mother, 29-year-old Alexa Stakely, was picking him up from his babysitter’s apartment early Thursday morning.

Police said she put her son, who was sleeping, into her Honda CR-V and returned to the apartment to retrieve something from the sitter.

But that’s when a thief reportedly jumped into the vehicle, which was running, and began to drive away.

Columbus police said Stakely tried to stop the carjacker by jumping onto the hood of the vehicle and yelling for that person to stop.

However, she ended up falling off the hood and suffered critical injuries.

The 29-year-old mother suffered a serious head injury and was rushed to an area hospital where she later died, WSYX reported.

The car thief ultimately ditched the vehicle nearby and took off before police located it.

When police arrived, they found the vehicle with the child unharmed and still sleeping inside the car.

An officer can be heard talking to the boy in the bodycam video and asking him if he is OK while the child appears to just be waking up.

In a tribute on Facebook, Canal Winchester Schools said Stakely was a dedicated speech-language therapist in the preschool program at Winchester Trail Elementary.

She had been with the district for five years and was affectionately known to her students as “Ms. Alexa.”

“Alexa was passionate about children and speech-language therapy. She was smart and compassionate, and she cared so much about helping children develop their ability to communicate,” the district shared. “She was a great mom who was incredibly dedicated to her son. Ms. Stakely made a difference in the lives of the students and families she worked with and will be missed by so many in our community and beyond.”

Stakely was reportedly picking up her son that early morning after working her second job.

Police said they have not yet made any arrests in the case and are urging anyone with information or surveillance video to come forward as they continue to look for the suspect.

Anyone with further information is asked to contact Detective Lemmon at 614-645-2558 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614- 461-8477.

Couple loses everything in apartment fire weeks before welcoming their first child

Family members say Sophia and Phillip Pacheco lost everything in an apartment fire weeks ahead of welcoming their first child. (GoFundMe)

San Antonio, Texas

A young couple in Texas is forced to start over after they reportedly lost everything in a large apartment fire this week.

KENS reports that Sophia and Phillip Pacheco’s San Antonio apartment caught fire on Wednesday night after a barbecue grill ignited in an apartment next door.

Family members say the couple lost all of their belongings in the fire just weeks before the birth of their first child.

“My daughter is eight months pregnant, and they lost everything. All they have is the clothes on their back,” Sophia Pacheco’s mother, Susan Castaneda, wrote on a GoFundMe account.

The couple shared that they have been unable to return their building as it is now condemned.

They said some of the sentimental items they lost in the fire included photo albums and a hand-knitted blanket for their baby boy.

“One minute, we are fine. The next minute, all of our stuff is gone,” Sophia Pacheco told KENS. “Baby items, personal items, family heirlooms, our wedding rings.”

Sophia Pacheco’s mother said she started the online fundraiser to help her daughter and son-in-law get back on their feet and has thanked everyone who has already helped them.

Phillip Pacheco shared that their faith is also helping them in the rebuilding process.

Biden mistakenly calls Ukraine’s Zelenskyy ‘President Putin’ at NATO summit

President Joe Biden mistakenly introduced Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as “President Putin” at a NATO conference Thursday. (White House pool)

Washington

President Joe Biden mistakenly referred to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as “President Putin,” at the end of this week’s NATO summit on Thursday.

In announcing a compact that would bring together NATO countries to support Ukraine in its ongoing conflict with Russia, Biden referred to Ukraine’s leader as the Russian president.

Biden quickly returned to the microphone saying, “President Putin - he’s going to beat President Putin ... President Zelenskyy.”

Then he said: “I’m so focused on beating Putin,” to explain the gaffe.

Zelenskyy handled the flubbed introduction, replying with “I’m better.”

“You’re a hell of a lot better,” Biden said back.

President Biden’s ability to run for reelection continues to face crucial tests following his recent debate performance against former President Donald Trump.

Biden’s team reportedly met privately with skeptical senators on Capitol Hill on Thursday as more House Democrats called for him to exit the race.

The 81-year-old’s recent miscues and moments of possible confusion seen on camera have raised questions about his mental health ahead of the 2024 presidential election.

Some retailers are increasing interest rates on their credit cards, including Macy’s

FILE — Data shows people in their 20s and 30s are impacted the most by credit card debt. (Pixabay via MGN)

Store credit cards can be tempting regarding certain benefits, but they also carry some of the higher interest rates for credit.

According to multiple reports, Macy’s recently sent a notification to some of their credit card holders regarding an APR increase.

Some card holders for Macy’s are seeing their rate increase to 34.49%, the Houston Chronicle reported.

The retailer’s card holders were reportedly told about the increase in letters sent out this month.

Personal finance website Bankrate reported earlier this year that retail credit cards were charging an average of 28.93% APR in 2023. However, some retailers were charging even higher interest rates.

“Just remember that any balance you carry on a retail credit card is likely to be more expensive than you realize, so do your best to pay off your purchases as quickly as possible,” Nicole Dieker and Aja McClanahan, personal finance writers, shared.

KFMB reports other retailers with APRs over 30% include Petco and Exxon Mobil, according to Ted Rossman, a senior industry analyst at Bankrate.