Prosecutors declined to immediately file any charges against a man arrested in connection with a hit-and-run crash in Playa del Rey that killed a year-old child and his 25-year-old uncle, with the District Attorney’s Office Friday referring the case back to police for additional investigation.
Moises Rodriguezleiva, 28, of Canyon Country, was arrested Wednesday in connection with the crash that occurred around 4:35 a.m. Sunday in the 6800 block of Vista Del Mar Avenue, just south of Culver Boulevard.
He was being held in lieu of $4 million bail. With no charges immediately filed against him, it was unclear if he would be released from custody. As of early evening Friday, he remained behind bars, according to sheriff’s jail records.
According to Los Angeles police, Rodriguezleiva was allegedly behind the wheel of a Jeep Cherokee heading south on Vista Del Mar when it crossed into northbound lanes and struck a blue 5-series BMW with four family members inside.
Osvaldo Sandoval Amaya, 25, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police and the county Medical Examiner’s Office. His nephew, year-old Roger Sandoval Farias, died at a hospital.
Amaya’s brother — the child’s father — and sister were also in the car and taken to hospitals in critical condition.
The driver of the Jeep abandoned the crashed vehicle and fled the scene on foot, police said. Rodriguezleiva was arrested around 7:30 a.m. Wednesday.
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.
My guess the follow-up investigation is having problems putting the driver behind the wheel of the Jeep when the collision occurred. With the crash happening at 4:30am, no independent eyewitness to the crash were probably present. The suspect could say he wasn’t driving the Jeep, and was a passenger when the crash occurred, further stating the driver too fled the scene on foot. Let’s hope the police removed the Jeep’s airbags from the steering wheel, and sent them out for DNA testing.