MMA Fighter’s Baby Son Dies After Being Run Over By Alleged Drunk Driver

MMA fighter Marcus Kowal’s 15-month-old son has died Saturday afternoon after being mowed down by an alleged drunk driver.

Little Liam Kowal and his aunt were enjoying a stroll at a crosswalk in Hawthorne California when a 72-year-old woman drove her car into them and then fled the scene, Daily Mail reports.

Marcus Kowal himself witnessed the incident unfold.

Kowal took to Facebook to announce the death of his son Liam and to thank those who sent him and his family their thoughts and prayers in this time of tragedy.

“I want to thank everyone who has been there for us, in all forms and shapes. Thoughts, prayers, in person – whatever. We’ve received 100s and 100s of txt messages, emails, fb messages, etc – we are blown away. Your support means the world to us.

“About an hour ago, our baby was declared brain dead. He tried to fight so hard. He even died at one point but they brought him back. He’s a little fighter. His heart is still beating but his brain is no longer working.

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

“Again, your support means the world and I wish we could respond to each and every one of you but right now, we are going work through this.

“Funeral arrangements will be posted here.

Thank you.
RIP Liam Mikael Kowal. 5/25/2015-9/4/2016”

Liam’s 15-year-old aunt, sister of Kowal’s partner, Mishel Eder, was hospitalized after the incident. She suffered severe injuries, mostly on her legs. Little Liam was found still strapped in his stroller, not breathing and with no pulse.

They were sent to the UCLA Medical Center where Liam was diagnosed with internal injuries. He was also declared brain dead.

The woman who killed Liam, identified as Donna Marie Higgins, made an attempt to escape but was stopped in her tracks when some witnesses followed her and blocked off her escape routes until cops arrived.

Cops immediately gave Higgins a sobriety test when they arrived at the scene. They then arrested her under suspicion of felony hit and run and felony drunk driving.

Higgins immediately posted bail, but cops are looking to file additional charges against her.

Hours later, Kowal took to Facebook again to announce that Liam’s organs will be donated and to ask for help finding kids who might need them.

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1087370124643972&id=101155306598797

“This isn’t easy to write but Liam is going to donate his organs, so that his little heart can make another child live and another set of parents not have to go through what we have to.

“We were told that we can donate to someone we know. Therefore, I am
writing this post to ask if there is a child out there we know that needs a heart or any other organ.

“It hurts to write this but Liam loved to share and the person we were going to raise him to be would love to help someone else.”

“Thank you all for your support. Please don’t drink and drive. #RIPLiam” Marcus captioned.

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The Kowal family has set up a GoFundMe page to raise money that would help them with medical expenses as well as funeral costs.

“Please, if you can, donate anything you can to help them with medical expenses as well as funeral costs. I know Marcus and Mishel were giving their all to building a legacy business for their little family and they have impacted countless lives through their work. As Marcus’s business associate and friend, I am starting this GoFundMe to organize our support. No parent should EVER have to bury their child!”

To donate, go to this GoFundMe page link.

Marcus Kowal, lives in Sweden, and has five fights under his name as an MMA fighter, with three wins and one draw since 2009.

Kowal is the CEO of Systems Training Center Encino.

[Photo by Marcus Kowal/Facebook]