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'He was my best friend,' father says of 10-year-old killed in scooter crash

The boy was hit Saturday night on Candelas Parkway in Arvada.

ARVADA, Colo. — A 10-year-old boy who was hit by a driver while riding an electric scooter Saturday died from his injuries, according to the Arvada Police Department.

The crash happened around 7:40 p.m. Saturday at West 93rd Drive and Candelas Parkway.

Family members have identified the boy as fifth-grader Austin Lobato. 

"He was my best friend," Chad Lobato, Austin's father, told 9NEWS. "Every parent’s going to say their kid was the best kid, but man, in this case he was the best kid." 

Chad said Austin was headed home after hanging out with friends. He called his parents to tell him he would be home in five minutes. When 20 minutes passed, they looked up his cell phone location and saw he was just up the road. His wife then heard sirens. 

"Got to scene in time to see the paramedics and firefighters getting Austin on stretcher, performing CPR, loading him into an ambulance," Chad Lobato said. "As a father in my heart, I’m telling him to fight, 'you’re going to pull through this,' and he just didn’t pull through. He didn’t make it." 

Credit: Chad Lobato

Chad said Austin was a funny and kind young kid, who loved his little sister dearly. He was fearless and enjoyed spending time with his friends and playing sports. His parents were able to watch him score during a football game just hours before the crash. 

"We were privileged enough to be sitting on the sideline right where he caught a pass and was able to take it in for a touchdown," Chad said.

He began to cry and think of the photo he was able to take at that moment.

"It’s just him running for his last touchdown," he said. "He’s running to the sky. What I wouldn’t give to throw him another pass."

Credit: Chad Lobato

The driver of the Toyota Prius involved in the crash remained at the scene and is cooperating with the investigation. 

All aspects of the crash are currently under investigation, including who was at fault and whether any charges are warranted.

Chad said he and his family will likely never blame anyone for this situation -- that is not what's important.

Credit: Chad Lobato

"The only thing that matters right now is that Austin is not here," he said. "We will always miss him." 

The Lobato family is thanking the Arvada community for their love and support. A GoFundMe has raised more than $60,000 in one day. 

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