A heartbreaking tragedy in Riverdale, Maryland, has led to a wrongful-death lawsuit being filed by the family of a 5-year-old boy, Sky Sosa. Sky was one of two children struck and killed by a van last year while walking to school. His family is now seeking justice, claiming that multiple failures led to his death.
The lawsuit, filed on behalf of Sky’s mother, Laura Palacios, seeks up to $58 million in damages. The suit names Prince George’s County Fire & EMS, the Prince George’s County Board of Education, the van’s driver, and another private individual as defendants.
The tragic incident happened on the morning of November 20, 2023, near Riverdale Elementary School. Sky and 10-year-old Shalom Mbah were walking in a crosswalk with Sky’s father, Franklin Sosa, when a van, driven by Olga Lugo Jimenez of Hyattsville, hit them while making a left turn. Both children were rushed to the hospital but, sadly, did not survive. Sky’s father, Franklin, was also hit but only suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
Christian Hudson, a lawyer representing the Sosa family, explained the family’s goal: “We’re trying to get some justice for Sky’s family and for Sky’s death.”
The lawsuit points to serious problems, calling them “systemic failures.” It claims the Prince George’s County Police Department had left at least 83 crossing guard positions vacant, despite knowing how dangerous that was. The department hadn’t even begun scheduling interviews to fill those positions until December 2023, which was after the accident.
Hudson shared that the Board of Education was aware of this issue but did nothing to fix it. As a result, Sky and Shalom lost their lives.
The suit also accuses the county’s Fire & EMS department of failing to respond quickly. According to the complaint, it took emergency services around half an hour to arrive at the scene.
“We also want to make sure that the county does not allow a situation like this to happen again,” Hudson added.
Meanwhile, the driver of the van, Olga Lugo Jimenez, was indicted in June 2024 on charges of criminally negligent manslaughter and causing the death of a vulnerable individual while operating a vehicle.
This is not the only lawsuit filed in connection with the tragedy. Last week, the family of Shalom Mbah, the 10-year-old girl who was also killed in the crash, filed their own lawsuit against Prince George’s County.
When asked for a response, the Prince George’s County Executive Office declined to comment, saying they cannot discuss ongoing legal matters.
For Sky’s family, this lawsuit is not just about seeking compensation—it’s about holding those responsible accountable and ensuring that no other family experiences such a devastating loss.
