The YouTubers are thought to have been filming a video for a social media challenge with a rented Lamborghini SUV driven by 20-year-old Matteo Di Pietro, one of the group’s founders.
Di Pietro crashed into the Smart driven by the boy’s mother in the Casal Palocco neighbourhood south of the capital.
Manuel, 5, died in the collision and his mother and younger sister were badly injured.
“TheBorderline expresses to the family the utmost, sincere and deepest sorrow,” wrote the collective in a message published on Sunday as its last video on the YouTube channel that had 600,000 subscribers.
“The idea of TheBorderline was to offer young people entertainment in a healthy spirit.
“The tragedy that has occurred is so deep that it makes it morally impossible for us to continue on this path.
“Therefore, TheBorderline is to cease all activities with this last message. Our thoughts are only with Manuel,” concluded the message.
Di Pietro has been placed under investigation for vehicular homicide and injury.
ANSA
