MMA fighter Marcus Kowal's one-year-old son killed by alleged drunk driver

Kowal paid tribute to his 'little fighter'

Marcus Kowal, Mishel Eder and their son Liam (Marcus Kowal/Facebook)

An MMA fighter’s one-year-old son has died after being run over by an alleged drunk driver.

Liam Kowal, the 15-month-old son of MMA fighter Marcus Kowal and Mishel Eder, was hit as he was being pushed in his pram by his 15-year-old aunt in the Hawthorne, California on Saturday. According to police, Liam was being pushed in his pram inside the crosswalk when an SUV drove through the crosswalk “striking both victims”. Police found Liam without a pulse and not breathing in his pram and his aunt lying on the street with leg injuries.

Liam was taken to the UCLA medical centre and was placed on life support in an intensive care unit. After he was pronounced brain dead on Sunday, his family made the difficult decision to switch the life support machine off. His aunt is believed to be in a stable condition with serious injuries.

Writing on Facebook, Kowal said his son was a “little fighter” and was brought back to life by the doctors on one occasion.

“Our hearts are broken and there’s a void in my soul but we will get through this,” Kowal wrote.

A gofundme page has been set up to help with medical expenses and funeral costs and has already amassed over $122,000. Kowal said his son’s organs have been donated.

The 72-year-old alleged driver, named by police as Donna Marie Higgins, allegedly attempted to flee the scene but was cornered by witnesses, according to police. After police conducted sobriety tests, she was arrested on suspicion of a hit-and-run and drunk driving. She was released on a $100,000 bail on Monday.