A suspect who allegedly left the scene of a crash in Playa del Rey that killed a 1-year-old child and a 25-year-old man was in police custody Wednesday.
A detective with the Los Angeles Police Department’s West Traffic Division told City News Service that the suspect is a man in his late 20s, but his name was not disclosed, nor were details about his arrest.
Firefighters and paramedics were dispatched at 4:34 a.m. Sunday to a collision in the 6800 Vista Del Mar Avenue, just south of Culver Boulevard and a couple of blocks from the ocean. Authorities said a blue 5-series BMW was headed northbound on Vista Del Mar when it was struck by a southbound Jeep Cherokee, which crossed over into oncoming traffic.
Two critically injured victims — a woman who was about 30 years old and the child — and one other person who was in the BMW were taken to a hospital, the Los Angeles Fire Department reported.
The child was pronounced dead at the hospital. The Los Angeles County Office of Medical Examiner identified the baby as Roger Sandoval Farias.
The 25-year-old man who also died in the collision was Osvaldo Sandoval Amaya.
The driver fled the scene on foot and was seen running northbound on Vista Del Mar, leaving the Jeep at the location, police said.
KTLA5 reported that Amaya was the dead child’s uncle. His brother — the child’s father — and sister were the other adults injured in the crash, the station reported.
Anyone with information about the collision or the suspect was urged to contact the LAPD’s West Traffic Division detectives at 213-473-0234. Those wishing to remain anonymous can submit information through Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or at lacrimestoppers.org.