A motorist who allegedly left the scene of a crash in Playa del Rey that killed a 1-year-old child and his 25-year-old uncle was identified by police Thursday as a Canyon Country resident.
A detective with the Los Angeles Police Department’s West Traffic Division told City News Service that the suspect is Moises Rodriguez Leiva, 28, but details about his arrest were not immediately available.
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.
The driver fled the scene on foot and was seen running northbound on Vista Del Mar, leaving the Jeep at the location, police said.
Two critically injured victims — a woman who was about 30 years old and the child — and one other BMW occupant — 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.
Amaya was the dead child’s uncle. Amaya’s brother — the child’s father — and sister were the other adults injured in the crash, KTLA5 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.