MMA fighter Marcus Kowal and his partner make tearful plea to stop drinking and driving as charges are upgraded 'against woman who mowed down and killed their infant son'

  • Liam Kowal and his 15-year-old aunt were run over on Saturday afternoon 
  • Boy was pronounced brain dead Sunday; his organs are being donated 
  • Driver Donna Marie Higgins, 72, tried to flee after the crash, cops say
  • Charges against her were upgraded to manslaughter
  • Parents Marcus Kowal, an MMA fighter, and Mishel Eder are 'heartbroken'
  • Both made a tearful plea to public yesterday to stop drinking and driving  

An MMA fighter and his partner have made an emotional plea for people to stop drinking and driving as charges were upgraded against the woman who allegedly mowed down and killed their infant son.

Marcus Kowal and his girlfriend Mishel Eder broke down in tears as they spoke about their 15-month-old son Liam who was declared brain dead on Sunday after the hit-and-run.

Donna Marie Higgins, 72, who was caught trying to flee the scene, was rearrested yesterday on vehicular manslaughter charges after the boy's parents made the heartbreaking decision to switch off life-support.

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Marcus Kowal and his girlfriend Mishel Eder have made an emotional plea to stop drinking and driving as charges are upgraded against the woman who allegedly mowed down and killed their infant son 

Marcus Kowal and his girlfriend Mishel Eder have made an emotional plea to stop drinking and driving as charges are upgraded against the woman who allegedly mowed down and killed their infant son 

'Yesterday my son was taken off life support and his organs were donated,' said Kowal at a fundraiser calling for stricter laws on drinking and driving.

'He was the happiest baby and to have him ripped away from us is so cruel,' said Eder.  'Speaking here today is the hardest thing for me to do but I need to do it for my baby, so other babies are safe.'

'Please don't drink and drive, ever.' 

Koval, who is originally from Sweden, called the US's legal 0.8 alcohol limit 'absolutely ridiculous' as he pleaded for a zero tolerance policy on drinking and driving.

Kowal's 15-month-old son Liam (pictured with him) was declared brain dead on Sunday after the hit-and-run

Kowal's 15-month-old son Liam (pictured with him) was declared brain dead on Sunday after the hit-and-run

Loved: MMA fighter Marcus Kowal posted this on his Facebook page Tuesday. It reads: 'Good night bebisen (baby), you'll always be with us. Pappa älskar dig (Daddy loves you)'

Loved: MMA fighter Marcus Kowal posted this on his Facebook page Tuesday. It reads: 'Good night bebisen (baby), you'll always be with us. Pappa älskar dig (Daddy loves you)'

 

'His death will not go in vain,' Eder added, tears rolling down her face. 'We are going to fight, fight and fight for Liam.

Liam and his 15-year-old aunt were within the boundaries of a crosswalk in Hawthorne, California, on Saturday when they were mowed down by an allegedly drunk Higgins.

The teen received serious injuries but survived the smash.

Kowal said he ran to the roadside to be confronted with the sight of his son's stroller torn in two. Numerous police cars were already at the scene.

Liam, who was found not breathing and without a pulse, was rushed to Harbor UCLA Medical Center with internal injuries. The following day, he was declared brain dead.

Kowal and his girlfriend Mishel Eder(pictured)  broke down in tears at a fundraiser calling for stricter laws on drinking and driving
Kowal and his girlfriend Mishel Eder(pictured)  broke down in tears at a fundraiser calling for stricter laws on drinking and driving

Kowal and his girlfriend Mishel Eder (pictured left and with Kowal right) broke down in tears at a fundraiser calling for stricter laws on drinking and driving

The MMA fighter said that he had arrived at the road after the crash to find his son's stroller in two pieces (pictured) 

The MMA fighter said that he had arrived at the road after the crash to find his son's stroller in two pieces (pictured) 

Donna Marie Higgins
Kowal said there was now 'a void' in his 'soul'

Donna Marie Higgins (left), 72, has had her charges upgraded to manslaughter after Liam's life support was switched off.' Kowal (right) said there was now 'a void' in his 'soul'

On Sunday Kowal wrote on Facebook: '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,' Kowal continued. 'Our hearts are broken and there's a void in my soul but we will get through this.' 

Yesterday, Kowal posted a final photograph on Facebook showing his son's tiny, scratched hand with the caption, 'Good night bebisen (baby), you'll always be with us. Pappa älskar dig (Daddy loves you).'

Eder also shared a snap showing her holding her son's hand next to a soft toy and said: 'Saying good bye to my light, my love before he goes to save lives. This pain is unbearable. Liam, I love you. Hug your children, kiss them always. Don't lose patience. Laugh with them often. Get off your phones and play games. #rememberliam.'

Heartbroken: MMA fighter Marcus Kowal has been left 'heartbroken' after his 15-month-old son Liam (both pictured) was killed in an alleged drunk-driving incident on Saturday

Heartbroken: MMA fighter Marcus Kowal has been left 'heartbroken' after his 15-month-old son Liam (both pictured) was killed in an alleged drunk-driving incident on Saturday

Killed: Liam suffered internal injuries and was not breathing and had no pulse when paramedics arrived. He was later declared dead at Harbor UCLA Medical Center

Killed: Liam suffered internal injuries and was not breathing and had no pulse when paramedics arrived. He was later declared dead at Harbor UCLA Medical Center

Brain dead: In this Facebook post, Kowal (pictured with Liam and partner Mishel Eder) announced that his son was declared brain dead on Sunday

Brain dead: In this Facebook post, Kowal (pictured with Liam and partner Mishel Eder) announced that his son was declared brain dead on Sunday

Witnesses say the driver of the car tried to flee, but they followed Higgins in their own cars then blocked off her escape routes until cops arrived, Hawthorne Police said. 

She was given an on-the-spot sobriety test and was arrested on suspicion of felony hit and run and felony drunk driving.

Higgins posted bail, but was rearrested yesterday at 3pm on the upgraded charges of vehicular manslaughter charges after Liam's parents switched off his life support.

In the early hours of yesterday, just a few hours after saying his final farewell to his son, Kowal posted a video on Facebook again pleading for people not to drink and drive.

'It's been about four hours since I left the hospital where I said goodbye to my 15-month-old baby for the last time. Three days ago he got hit by a drunk driver. 

'I'm not a paid actor, this is not a commercial, this is reality.

'All I can say is, don't drink and drive. Don't let a friend drink or drive. Please.'

In another post, he said he's been overwhelmed by the support from friends, family and the public.

Hundreds turned out for the the fundraiser for his campaign against drink-driving yesterday where he also spoke passionately about the importance of organ donation.

The couple have donated Liam's organs to help other babies in need and encouraged everyone, regardless of culture or religion, to donate. 

Fighter: Kowal has fought five matches, of which he won three and drew one. He works as the CEO of a fight training school

Fighter: Kowal has fought five matches, of which he won three and drew one. He works as the CEO of a fight training school

'To see hundreds and hundreds of people show up to show their support - many people we have never met - was amazing,' he said.

'We have received so much support via social media but to actually see so many people come out was truly a humbling experience.

A GoFundMe page set up to raise money for the Kowals has already raised more than $123,000, already surpassing it's $100,000 goal.

Marcus Kowal, who is from Sweden, has five fights on his record according to Sherdog.com, scoring three wins and a draw since 2009.

He is the CEO of Systems Training Center Encino.  

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