A 27-year-old South Carolina woman is facing serious criminal charges after allegedly striking and killing a 2-year-old girl with her pickup truck, then driving away despite hearing a loud impact. Anayely Lovato Guerrero has been charged with hit-and-run with death and reckless vehicular homicide in connection with the fatal crash that claimed the life of Haisha Dominguez Marin on Sept. 9. The case has sparked a contentious dispute between investigators and the suspect's family, who maintain that Guerrero did not know she had hit a child and fled out of confusion rather than malice.
Background
The tragedy unfolded in North Charleston when police responded to reports of a child struck by a vehicle near the intersection of Rivers Avenue and Eagle Drive around 8:45 p.m. Upon arrival, first responders discovered that Haisha Dominguez Marin had already succumbed to her injuries. Investigators quickly identified a 2020 Toyota Tacoma as the suspected vehicle and located it at a local address the following day.
According to the North Charleston Police Department, Guerrero was questioned after the vehicle was found. In a probable cause affidavit obtained by local ABC affiliate WCIV, Guerrero stated that she had left a Goodwill store at approximately 8:40 p.m. She claimed to have heard a "bang" while driving but asserted that she "didn't notice anything" and continued on her way.
The investigation took a dramatic turn during Guerrero's first court appearance, where an officer testified that surveillance footage captured a vehicle traveling at roughly 65 mph in a 45 mph zone. The video reportedly recorded a "loud thud," although the actual moment of impact was off-camera. Police allege that the driver exited the vehicle, inspected it, and left the scene after finding no visible damage.
Guerrero’s brother, Frencio Lovato Guerrero, has publicly challenged the police narrative. He told the Post and Courier that his sister was unaware she had struck the child. He alleged that a different vehicle had already fatally hit Haisha and that Guerrero merely drove over the girl’s body afterward. Frencio argued that because it was dark and police had not yet arrived, his sister had no reason to know the nature of the impact.
Furthermore, the family disputes the claim that Guerrero exited her truck to inspect it, stating she never left the vehicle. They also contend that investigators focused on Guerrero’s light gray Tacoma because it was more distinguishable on surveillance video compared to other vehicles passing through the area that night.
The Charges
Anayely Lovato Guerrero has been arrested and charged with hit-and-run with death and reckless vehicular homicide. She is currently being held in the Sheriff Al Cannon Detention Center without bond.
In a separate development, police announced the arrest of the victim’s guardian, 21-year-old Glaimar Alejandra Ramirez Dominguez. Authorities allege that this incident marks the second time in two weeks that Haisha was left to wander unsupervised on the street. On Aug. 25, a driver reportedly had to stop to save Haisha after finding the toddler alone in the middle of the road wearing only a diaper, according to WCIV reports.
North Charleston police spokesperson Anthony King confirmed that investigators had probable cause to arrest Guerrero but declined to provide specific details on how they determined she was the driver responsible for the fatal strike. "As to the specifics of the investigation, those will come out in court at trial," King stated in an email to the Post and Courier.
Key Takeaways
- Anayely Lovato Guerrero is charged with hit-and-run with death and reckless vehicular homicide following the Sept. 9 death of 2-year-old Haisha Dominguez Marin.
- Police allege Guerrero was driving a 2020 Toyota Tacoma at approximately 65 mph in a 45 mph zone and fled the scene after hearing a "bang" and inspecting the vehicle.
- The suspect's family disputes the police account, claiming another vehicle struck the child first and that Guerrero did not exit her truck to inspect the damage.
- The victim's guardian, Glaimar Alejandra Ramirez Dominguez, was also arrested, with police citing a prior incident where the toddler was found unsupervised in the roadway.
- Guerrero is being held without bond at the Sheriff Al Cannon Detention Center, with her next court appearance scheduled for Oct. 30.
What's Next
Anayely Lovato Guerrero is scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 30, where further details of the investigation and the conflicting accounts between police and the defense are expected to be scrutinized. Meanwhile, the legal proceedings against the victim’s guardian, Glaimar Alejandra Ramirez Dominguez, are also underway as authorities continue to build their cases regarding the circumstances surrounding the toddler's death.