9-year-old killed in suspected DUI crash in Sacramento County, CHP says
A 9-year-old child was killed and his mother was injured by a suspected DUI driver who fled the scene and was later arrested Sunday, the California Highway Patrol said.
Authorities tracked down Rene Zaragoza Jr., 27, of Roseville, and arrested him on charges of murder, hit-and-run, driving under the influence of alcohol causing injury or death and failure to have an ignition interlock device, according to a news release from the CHP's North Sacramento office.
The two-vehicle collision happened in the area of Bell Street and Marconi Avenue around 1:30 a.m. on St. Patrick's Day.
According to the CHP, Zaragoza was driving a 2010 white Infiniti when he failed to stop at a red light and hit a Toyota Corolla.
The driver of the Corolla, a 36-year-old Sacramento woman, and her 9-year-old son were both taken to a hospital, where the boy later died of his injuries, authorities said. The boy's mother suffered major injuries, the CHP said.
Officers found Zaragoza at his home and took him into custody shortly before 5 a.m. Sunday.
The CHP is asking anyone with information on the collision to contact its North Sacramento office.