TOWN OF WALLKILL – The man, who backed up his van in a parking lot striking and killing a one-year-old, was driving with a suspended license.
Antonio Mendez, 31, of Middletown, is an employee at Joshua’s Auto Body, where the tragic accident occurred. The business is owned by the parents of the little victim, Joshua Gutierrez.
The family lives in Bloomingburg.
The child’s mother rushed her son to Orange Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounce dead.
The boy and his mom had gone to the family shop to pick up Joshua Gutierrez Senior. While they waited, little Joshua was chasing a ball in the parking lot when Mendez’s vehicle backed up and struck him.
Mendez is to appear in town court in November.
Wallkill Police Chief Robert Hertman said the investigation is being conducted by Wallkill detectives along with the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, State Police and Middletown City Police.
