NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Lawrenceville, GA, May 9, 2026: A 67-year-old man has been charged in connection with the hit-and-run death of a 3-year-old boy in Lawrenceville, after investigators identified the driver as Rohitbhai Patel of Snellville, according to the Lawrenceville Police Department.
Patel faces charges of felony hit-and-run and second-degree vehicular homicide after police said he struck and killed Maxence, a 3-year-old boy who had wandered out of his family’s apartment in the early morning hours of April 26.
According to police, officers responded at about 5:13 a.m. to reports of a missing child at an apartment complex on East Crogan Street. While searching the area, officers found the child lying unresponsive in the roadway along Winder Highway near Stanley Court.
Police said officers immediately rendered aid and observed injuries consistent with the child having been struck by a vehicle. Despite lifesaving efforts by personnel from the Gwinnett County Fire Department, the child was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators from the department’s Accident Investigation Unit launched an extensive probe, using law enforcement databases and other investigative resources to identify the suspect vehicle as a blue 2008 Honda CR-V. With assistance from the Criminal Investigation Division, officers later located the vehicle at a nearby warehouse and identified Patel as the suspected driver.
A fundraiser created by Maxence’s family described the toddler as “a bright light in the lives of his family, full of curiosity, laughter, and a joy that filled every room he entered.”
Neighbors living near the crash site told local media that speeding has long been a concern in the area. One resident said the tragedy was heartbreaking and could have been prevented.
Police said the investigation remains active and ongoing, and anyone with information is urged to contact authorities.
