Pope Francis, in his Christmas Eve mass, lamented that this Yuletide, there has been too many tears shed. Although he was referring to victims of brutal slaying by extremist groups, his cry applies as well to tragic deaths resulting from accidents during the Christmas holiday.

One of them is 12-year-old Roman Martinez from California who was struck by a car while riding a motorized scooter he received as a Christmas gift, reports NBC Los Angeles. The boy was wearing a helmet, according to his family.

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The accident happened on Friday noon near the intersection of Second Avenue and 24^th Street when his Razo scooter was hit by a 1998 Honda Civic driving west of 24^th Street, said Officer Tammi Calderwood of the California Highway Patrol's Ontario office.

Roman was airlifted to the Loma Linda Medical Center where he eventually died from injuries, which witnesses described as severe. His mangled scooter was underneath the car which had shattered windshield and left skid marks on the street.

The 30-year-old female driver of the Honda remained at the accident scene wasn't arrested, although the incident is still being investigated. While investigators said the motorist appeared not to have taken drugs or alcohol, Roland Martinez, the boy's father pointed out that drivers along 24^th Street often exceed the maximum 35 mph speed limit on that section.

But the report said, quoted by KTLA.com, "The juvenile rode out of the driveway directly into the path of the oncoming Honda." It added the driver braked, but failed to stop her vehicle and hit the kid.

Older brother R.J. Martinez described his younger sibling as a "great kid, courageous, would probably end up giving you the shirt off his back." R.J. added that he is still in shock over the loss of Roman who had a very good heart.

Tagschristmas, tragedy, scooter accident