Ten-year-old Vincente Pabon should be alive today. Instead, his parents are grieving a devastating loss — one that never should have happened.

On a Thursday evening in Montgomery, Illinois, Vincente left his house to grab a snack. His family thought he was in another room, playing video games with his brother. In just minutes, he was struck while crossing busy Route 30 near Horseman Trail — a multi-lane road with limited crossing protections. By Saturday morning, Vincente was gone.

His parents, Andrea Lopez and David Pabon, remember him as a joyful, caring child who loved Sonic the Hedgehog, sports, and making YouTube videos. His mom said he brought joy every single morning just by being there. “The last thing I remember my son telling me was, ‘Mom, I love you so much,’” she said. “He gave me a big hug.”

The heartbreak of his death is unbearable — but what makes it worse is knowing that simple changes to Route 30 could have saved his life. This is a wide, high-speed road in a residential area. There is no reason a child walking to a gas station should be forced to cross lanes of traffic without dedicated pedestrian signals, crosswalk markings, or barriers.

Montgomery police say the driver stayed on the scene and cooperated. But this isn’t only about one driver — it’s about a dangerous stretch of road that has long put families at risk. If this could happen to Vincente, it could happen to any child in the community.

We are calling on the Illinois Department of Transportation, the Village of Montgomery, and the Kane County Board to immediately assess safety conditions on Route 30 and install proper protections for pedestrians — including marked crosswalks, lighting, traffic signals, and signage where needed.

No family should lose a child just trying to cross the street. If you believe Vincente’s death must lead to action, add your name to demand safer streets now.