Denver, CO : Austin Strasser, 3, killed when he, his sister Audrey Strasser, 5, struck by car while walking in a crosswalk on University Boulevard in Denver on Friday, February 13, 2015

Austin Strasser was looking forward to lemon cake at his fourth birthday party this week when the toddler — walking in a crosswalk with his mother and big sister — was struck by a car in Denver and fatally injured.

Austin's mom was toting him and his 5-year-old blind, nonverbal and developmentally delayed sister, Audrey, from their home to a nearby library and maybe for a quick ice cream stop. As they made their way across a busy Bonnie Brae intersection Friday, a turning car ended the trip they had made many times before.

Austin was identified Monday by a family friend who described him as his sister's protector. His mother, Tiffanie Strasser, and Audrey were both also hit by the car and left with minor injuries.

Police say an investigation will be turned over to the district attorney when complete. Prosecutors will determine if charges will be filed against the driver, police spokesman Sonny Jackson said.

Jackson said the driver — described by witnesses as an older woman — will not be identified unless she is charged with a crime.

"(Tiffanie) always walks him to the library and ice cream shop," Connie Hamman, a family friend, told The Denver Post. "They go walking all the time."

The boy's family said Austin made his sister laugh, patiently loving her with valor. Austin's fourth birthday was to be this Friday.

"He was so awesome," Hamman said. "He was just full of life and full of energy. He was silly and loved to be brave. He loved his sister."

The collision happened at about 5 p.m. Tiffanie Strasser and her children were legally crossing in the crosswalk when the driver turned southbound on University Boulevard from Ohio Avenue and hit them, police said. The driver had a green light.

The collision happened yards from the library and ice cream shop.

Austin was pronounced dead on Saturday night. Tiffanie Strasser and her daughter were released from medical care soon after being hit.

"She's remarkably strong right now," Hamman said.

Police say the accident was not a hit-and-run and that the driver has been cooperating with investigators.

A memorial service for Austin is scheduled for Saturday, though its location has not been made public.

The toddler's family is asking for donations in lieu of flowers. Donations should be sent to the Sewall Child Development Center, where Austin went to preschool, or the St. Vincent De Paul Catholic School, where the boy was going to attend school next year. The family asks that donations be made in Austin's name.

Source :
Child fatally hit by car in Denver was protector of his blind sister