Toddler Struck By Vehicle While Walking with Mother; Driver Arrested

LOS ANGELES (CNS) - A 2-year-old boy was struck and killed in South Los Angeles by a suspected drunken driver who allegedly veered off the road, hit the boy then hit a house, authorities said today.

The crash was reported about 5:30 p.m. Sunday on 92nd Street near Figueroa Street, according to the Los Angeles Police Department's South Traffic Division.

``The vehicle (a Chevrolet Tahoe SUV) was eastbound on 92nd Street when it swerved, hit the ... boy, who was on the sidewalk walking (westbound on the north sidewalk) with his mother, and collided with a house,'' LAPD Sgt. Minh Nguyen said.

Eidan Cortez of Los Angeles died at a hospital, the coroner's office reported.

The SUV driver, a 32-year-old man from Gardena whose name has been withheld, was arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter, Nguyen said.

The motorist ''displayed obvious signs of intoxication,'' according to Nguyen.

He tried to drive from the crash site while the toddler was stuck beneath the vehicle, according to reports from the scene.

Nguyen said the man was detained by witnesses until officers arrived, Nguyen said.

Anyone with information about the deadly collision was urged to call South Traffic Division detectives at (323) 421-2500.

Photo: Getty Images


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