Toddler Injured in Clovis DUI Parking Lot Incident

Toddler Injured in Suspected DUI Incident in Clovis Parking Lot: What Families Should Know

A toddler was injured on Saturday afternoon, January 3, 2026, after being struck by a vehicle in the Trader Joe's parking lot at Willow and Nees avenues in Clovis. According to the Clovis Police Department, officers responded around 2:23 p.m. to reports that a truck ran over a child in the lot. Authorities reported that the toddler was awake and alert and was transported to a hospital in stable condition. Police also stated that the child's mother was struck and evaluated at the scene by emergency medical personnel. Officers identified the driver as a 62-year-old man from Prather and indicated he was arrested on suspicion of felony DUI. The investigation remains ongoing.

While the immediate priority is the health and recovery of the child and parent, incidents like this raise important questions about how DUI-related pedestrian crashes are investigated, how fault is assessed, and what steps families can take to protect their rights. The following overview explains key considerations specific to parking-lot crashes involving children, the evidence that can make a difference, and how California law approaches liability and insurance after suspected impaired driving.

Understanding the Investigation and Next Steps

• Criminal and civil processes: When a driver is arrested on suspicion of DUI, the criminal case focuses on whether the state can prove impaired driving beyond a reasonable doubt. Separately, injured families may pursue civil claims to recover compensation for medical care, rehabilitation, and other losses. These are independent tracks; a civil case can move forward even while a criminal case is pending.
• Evidence commonly reviewed: Investigators will typically evaluate surveillance footage (including from the store and neighboring businesses), witness statements, parking lot layout and signage, vehicle damage, lighting conditions, and any measurements taken at the scene. If DUI is suspected, officers may include toxicology results, field sobriety assessments, and arrest reports as part of the record.
• Time-sensitive materials: Parking lots often have video systems that overwrite footage within days or weeks. Promptly requesting the preservation of surveillance video, 911 audio, body-worn camera footage, and photographs can be critical. Families or their representatives should also ask that the vehicle's data (such as speed and braking information, if available) be preserved.

Why Parking-Lot Pedestrian Crashes Happen

Parking lots pose unique risks for children due to low driver visibility, backing