A 27-year-old South Carolina woman is facing homicide charges after allegedly striking and killing a 2-year-old girl with her pickup truck and fleeing the scene, according to North Charleston Police Department officials. Anayely Lovato Guerrero was arrested and charged with hit-and-run with death and reckless vehicular homicide in connection with the Sept. 9 death of Haisha Dominguez Marin. While investigators allege Guerrero left the scene after hearing a "bang," her family publicly disputes the narrative, claiming she did not realize she had struck a child and that another vehicle may have caused the fatal injury.
Background
The incident occurred around 8:45 p.m. near the intersection of Rivers Avenue and Eagle Drive in North Charleston, according to a police press release. Officers responded to reports that a child had been struck by a vehicle. Upon arrival, first responders found Haisha, who was already deceased. Investigators identified a 2020 Toyota Tacoma as the vehicle believed to have killed the child and located it at a North Charleston address the following day.
During Guerrero’s first court appearance, an officer testified that surveillance footage showed a vehicle traveling approximately 65 mph in a 45 mph zone near the crash site. The recording captured a "loud thud," although the actual impact was off-camera, according to a report from the Post and Courier. Police stated that the driver exited the vehicle, checked for damage, and left after apparently finding none.
The Investigation
Guerrero told investigators she had left a Goodwill store around 8:40 p.m. and heard a "bang" while driving but "didn't notice anything," according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by local ABC affiliate WCIV. Her brother, Frencio Lovato Guerrero, challenged this account, telling the Post and Courier that his sister did not realize she had struck the child. He alleged that another vehicle had already fatally hit Haisha and that Guerrero only drove over the girl's body afterward. He argued that because it was dark and police had not yet arrived, Guerrero had no reason to know what she had hit.
Frencio also disputed the claim that his sister exited the truck to inspect it, stating she never got out. He further argued that investigators focused on Guerrero's light gray Tacoma because it was easier to distinguish on surveillance video than other vehicles that passed through the area that night. North Charleston police spokesperson Anthony King stated that investigators had probable cause to arrest Guerrero but declined to publicly explain how they determined she was driving the vehicle that fatally struck Haisha, noting those specifics would come out in court.
The Charges
Guerrero is being held in the Sheriff Al Cannon Detention Center without bond. Her next court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 30, records show. In a separate development, police announced the arrest of the victim's guardian, 21-year-old Glaimar Alejandra Ramirez Dominguez. Authorities alleged that it was the second time in as many weeks that Haisha had been left to wander that street unsupervised. A driver allegedly had to stop and save Haisha after finding her alone in the middle of the road wearing just a diaper on Aug. 25, WCIV reported.
Key Takeaways
- Anayely Lovato Guerrero is charged with hit-and-run with death and reckless vehicular homicide.
- The victim, 2-year-old Haisha Dominguez Marin, was found dead near Rivers Avenue and Eagle Drive in North Charleston.
- Guerrero claims she heard a bang but did not realize she had struck a child; her brother alleges another vehicle caused the fatal injury.
- Surveillance footage reportedly showed a vehicle traveling 65 mph in a 45 mph zone and captured a "loud thud."
- The victim's guardian, Glaimar Alejandra Ramirez Dominguez, was also arrested for allegedly leaving the child unsupervised.
What's Next
Guerrero remains in custody without bond as the investigation continues. Her next court appearance is set for Oct. 30. Police have stated that specific details regarding how investigators linked Guerrero to the fatal strike will be presented during the trial.
Bottom Line
This case highlights the tragic intersection of reckless driving and child neglect, with conflicting narratives emerging about whether the defendant knowingly fled the scene of a fatal hit-and-run or was unaware she had struck a toddler in the dark.