Six-year-old Mariana Espinoza was struck and killed crossing a busy east Charlotte street after stepping off her school bus on Friday, Oct. 23.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) charged 17-year-old Lachevis Finnie with felony hit-and-run resulting in a death, according to a CMPD press release published Monday, Oct. 26. Finnie did not have a valid driver's license, court documents state.

Espinoza, a student at Devonshire Elementary School, had boarded her bus at school and ridden less than half a mile to her stop on Barrington Drive, the Charlotte Observer reported. She got off with several other young students and tried to cross the intersection of Barrington and Lanecrest drives at about 3:21 p.m. A Mercedes-Benz struck her. The driver fled north on Barrington Drive.

Espinoza was transported by MEDIC to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries, CMPD said. On Oct. 24, detectives were notified she had died.

CMPD's Major Crash Investigation Unit identified Finnie after conducting a traffic stop on the suspect vehicle, a 2013 Mercedes-Benz that was seized as evidence. In a CMPD affidavit quoted by the Charlotte Observer, Finnie said "something ran out in front of his car and a collision occurred." He said "he fled the scene and did not render aid to anyone due to being scared," the affidavit states. He confessed to striking the child, according to the affidavit.

Neighbors say speed, missing crosswalk are the problem

Barrington Drive is a wide two-lane road with unprotected bike lanes and parking on either side. It feeds into The Plaza to the north and Milton Road to the south, both heavily trafficked, the Observer reported.

Two speed bumps sit directly in front of Devonshire Elementary. But farther down the road where Espinoza was struck, there are none. The spot has a yellow pedestrian crossing sign but no beacon, crosswalk or other road markings to help pedestrians cross safely.

The posted speed limit is 25 mph. Residents say drivers routinely ignore it.

Kevin, a resident since 2018 who declined to share his last name, told the Observer he was working from home when he heard a loud crash around 3:20 p.m. His security camera captured a group of children rushing toward the sound. He ran to the scene and attempted first aid but found no signs of life, he said.

"It just seems like there's no control over the speed on this road," Kevin told the Observer.

Kamya Little, 22, lives at the Sharon Pines apartment complex at the intersection where the crash happened. She told the Observer the situation is dangerous even for adults.

Parents told the Observer they want more speed bumps and better signage warning drivers that children are present. Evelyn Vazquez, translating for her mother Rosa Perez, told WSOC the family has witnessed close calls in the area and called for a traffic light or crosswalk.

Bus protocol questions unanswered

Kevin questioned whether the bus pulled away before students had safely crossed. The Observer reported that Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) did not respond when asked whether bus drivers are trained to wait until all students cross the street before leaving a stop.

On Tuesday, Oct. 27, the first school day bus service resumed at the stop after the crash, an adult passenger got off the bus and walked to the middle of the street to direct traffic while children crossed, the Observer reported. Several parents joined him. The bus stayed put until every child had crossed. CMS did not respond to the Observer's question about whether this was a procedural change.

Vigil held; family says they received threats

Family and friends gathered at a makeshift memorial for a vigil, WSOC reported. Espinoza's mother, Jacqui Segoviano, told those gathered that the suspect's family had discovered where her family lives and harassed them, forcing them to move.

"We had to leave this place because his family threatened us," Segoviano said at the vigil, according to WSOC. Whether CMPD has been notified of or is investigating those alleged threats is not clear from available reports.

Teacher Stephanie Druschel remembered Espinoza at the vigil. "She was always so bubbly and very smart; a bright little girl, sweet," Druschel said, according to WSOC.

CMPD's investigation is active and ongoing. Anyone with information can contact Detective Worthy at 704-432-2169, extension 4, or Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.