5-Year-Old Boy Allegedly Killed By DUI Suspect

May 15, 2011 11:19 PM

(credit: CBS)

WALNUT PARK (CBS) — A 5-year-old boy was fatally struck by a suspected drunk driver in Walnut Park Sunday, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The accident occurred in the 2500 block of Poplar Place just before 6 p.m., in an area north of South Gate, the CHP reported.

The boy, whose family lives in Montebello, reportedly ran into the street and was hit by the SUV, according to a camera crew at the site.

Police arrested the 25-year-old man motorist who faces charges of driving under the influence. He reportedly lives in Huntington Beach.

The child was pronounced dead at the scene.

5 Year Old Boy Allegedly Killed By DUI Suspect

jaydee

My heart goes out to the boy’s family. I’m just curious as to how is it that a 5 year old boy manages to run into the street. Was anybody watching him? Why did the driver get arrested? so many questions unanswered.
rick

if the kid ran into the street why is the driver arrested what fault is it of the driver that the parents are morons??

OMG

Do you have any children, rick? Apparently not. You’d be AMAZED at how quick children are. Once you have your own children and have taken them out and about and have experienced how they are at your hip one moment and the next down an opposite grocery store aisle, THEN and ONLY THEN come back and say that it’s the parents’ fault their boy is done. How completely ignorant of you to say! THE KID GOT HIT BECAUSE THE DRUNK FOOL HIT HIM WITH A 2,000+ POUND VEHICLE!!!

rick

OMG i have 5 kids rangeing from 2 to 16 and NON have ever been able to get past me or my wife because we always keep them in our sight its called GOOD PARENTING and yes i did miss that the driver was DUI my bad but still THIS kid would not have been hit by THAT DUI if the parents kept their eyes on their kid its that simple

Judie

Thank you!! seriously I live in Walnut Park all my life and let me inform you. This place went to s#it. SOME parents around here leave their kids running around the street. I understand that parents do work but some dont and are stuck into NOVELAS or Gossip. I feel bad for the 5 year old boy may he Rest in Peace =-(
Saber 1

Because he was a $pic drunk and driving. Pour anti freeze down this guys throat.

allan rivera

you dontt even know the story so just stay quite

ESB3

DUI idiot and the parents are morons.
Shanin Ayala

I witnessed when the child struck was on the street dead. It was a horrific thing. My heart goes out to the child parents. I know that the parents are the ones whom are mainly responsible for the child death. Of what I have seen anyone who drives through Poplar Place is always driving too fast. People should be aware that this is a residential area. Speed limit is 25 mph. Also not just hispanic kids get run over. Accidents happen everywhere and to everyone. Parents please be aware that your child does not know any better. Take care of your children. Drivers be aware of your surroundings and speed limits.

CM9

I agree. I also live on the block of Poplar and people constantly drive through here like if it was a freeway. The parents are out of state and i can only imagine what they will feel once their told about their son. It was not the gaurdians fault either. The child slipped away after throwing a tantrum because he wanted candy… Its such a shame that something like this had to happen in order for parents learn that our street isnt safe,

larry

poor little kid. stupid ass drunk.. dumb ass parents. sad sad sad
OMG

FYI to the world….. Parents are not always at fault…. Just some food for thought….
Shanin Ayala

@ CM9… Yeah we should try and get speed bumps on our block. People drive crazy! It is sad that his parents aren’t even here. I don’t have children but I know that it is not the guardians fault completely. Drivers should always be cautious. Pedestrians are always around.
Shanin Ayala

@ Rick…. Stop being inept and ignorant!!! Accidents happen. Be thankful that your children are well. Be thankful that you don’t have to mourn the death of one of your child. No matter who’s fault it was, for this horrible tragedy,have a bit of compassion. Do something to help your community. Stop judging without knowing!

rick

i do not belive ACCIDENTS HAPPEN i belive they are CAUSED the driver didnt ACCIDENTLY get drunk and the child did not ACCIDENTLY run in to the street the driver CHOOSE to drink and drive thus causeing his/her part of this and who ever was in charge of the child CHOOSE not to hold his hand or in someway keep him from running into a street i lived on rosemead blvd when our first child was born 16 years ago its a very busy road when we had him outside either my wife or I put our self between him and the street at all time incase he ran for it thus putting our self in position to stop him maybe im narrow minded but my ways have kept 5 very active kids alive so i will continue to see it my way

http://losangelesforme.com/2011/05/5-year-old-boy-allegedly-killed-by-dui-suspect/ 5-Year-Old Boy Allegedly Killed By DUI Suspect | Los Angeles for Me

[...] A 5-year-old boy was fatally struck by a suspected drunk driver in Walnut Park Sunday, according to the California Highway Patrol. More from: http://losangeles.cbslocal.com… [...]
Shanin Ayala

@ Rick… Well its great that you are the perfect parent. Glad that there are people out there like you. Unfortunately not everyone has parents like you. Still the way you express yourself just shows that you are a bitter person who only judges and doesn’t use his ideas for good. Get up and do something to change other communities who are in need. I am sure your a wonderful person. Just that situations like this ignite anger. Use that anger to help and not just to judge without action.

rick

your right i am angry my five kids son 16 son 12 daughter 8 son 4 and daughter 2 are my life along with their mother. so when something like this happens i ask WHY
WHY was this dumb ass driving drunk
WHY was this child not with his parents who someone said were out of town
WHY was he not somewhere other then that street at that moment
so i accept your statements and do appologize im just a person who has always be bent on takeing credit good or bad for my actions if i mess it up im the first to admit it if i do it well im the first one smileing because i know in my self i did well and i again ask WHY especially in the case of the driver some people choose not to take responsibility. im far from perfect non of us are perfect but when it comes to my kids i work extra hard to make sure nothing happens to them

Shanin Ayala

@ Rick…. Its great that you care for your children. I have a niece and nephew. I am always looking after them and even our neighbors kids. It is the saddest thing in the world to see a child dead on the street and think that it could be someone you know. I didn’t know the child but just to see him there lifeless made me sob and think of the pain that his parents are feeling. Blaming themselves for it. What gets me mad is drunk driving. I didn’t know the driver was DUI. What’s worst is that he had his whole family in the car. His wife and three kids. Very traumatic situation for these children. So again Rick know that your doing your part of being a good parent and understand that we can’t change how everyone else parents their children. Teach your kids how to be great parents. If you can talk about it with your community or in your childrens schools.

rick

i am glad i did not see it i would have wanted to hurt someone my kids and kids in gen are so special i just get so ticked when one gets hurt

Pat Robertson

Hey dude, you have any pics of your kids? Possibly without clothes on?
I would pay for them….

Judie

I was in the W.P. area about 4 pm prior of the incident occurred. All I see is freaking people drinking/smoking standing around Pacific Blvd. Idiots are cheering show-offs that are screeching tires, busting donuts, speeding & cruising. All I have to say is that it does not surprise me of an innocent boy being killed by an inpatient person.
Many parents around here also leave their children run around the streets.

Inpatient Driver + unsupervised Boy = Tragedy that could have been provented
Tony Clifton

Drunk drivers should be executed on site!

TC no smart

Thou art a scholar.

chuck u. farley

ricks sons are mommas boys… virgins forever..

tyron

hey Chuck you are a moron

BrianChatsworth

Opps
BrianChatsworth

Something smells 100% hispanic on this one !…They love, LOVE, love to kill one another. It’s a right of passage.

Big John

wrap your lips around a big black one

Big John

even if the guy had not been drinking that in it self dose not make it a sure thing the out come would have been any different. may the lord take this boy close to his heart. but that being said the person who hit him did not run & i am sure he feels real bad about what happen to the kid. but so many people saying this guy was drunk. D.U.I. is not the same as drunk , it just means that he had been drinking. every time you have a couple of beers are you drunk? i do not drink but i know that there is a difference between drunk & D.U.I. the law say what that limit is but since the limit is different in other parts of our country you can not say this guy was drunk!

Gilotine

Well said,’Big John’.

DENISE

HE WASN’T DRUNK !!.. HE WOULDN’T RISK HIS FAMYLY BY DRIVING DRUNK N HIS WIFE WOULDN’T LET HIM DRIVE EITHER !!… IT WAS AN ACCIDENT .. HE WAS PICKING UP HIS KIDS N WIFE TO GO OUT TO THE MOVIES..!!! AND NOW THEY ALL NEED HELP BECAUSE IT WAS VERY TRAUMATIC !! NOW THE KIDS N WIFE N IM PRETTY HIMSELF COULDN’T SLEEP WITH THE LITTLE BOY IMAGES !! I NOE KIDS WOULDN’T LIE THEY TOLD ME EXACTLY HOW IT HAPPEN N THEY ARE VERY SCARED N SAD !!!.. I COULDN’T SLEEP EITHER OF SEEN THEIR LITTLE FACES N TELLING ME HOW IT HAPPEN WITH TEARS IN THERE EYES !!! SO TO LET U NOE THEY WERE NOT INPATIENT OR HE WAS WASN’T DRUNK !!!!!!!
JebbieBoy

More family values from south of the border?
TooYoungToGo

Many comments posted are very ignorant and prejudged without knowing the facts. I can confidently say a few things about this.

The man arrested WAS a DUI. That is a fact. Booked. Done. No argument on it.

This story a perfect example to everyone that demonstrates the risks, outcomes, and tragedy that come with DUI driving. The parents aren’t to blame. The kid is not to blame. The man that decided to drink alcohol and get behind the wheel of 6,000 lb. truck is the one who is to blame. Because of his selfishness and inconsideration, a little boy has passed away and left his family and friends torn to pieces.
I only hope that people will take this tragedy, and next time think twice about getting behind the wheel after drinking alcohol.

May the young, innocent boy rest in peace.

P.S. For those talking about the “values” of a race, maybe you should show some respect and look inward at your own values for pre-judging a race to blame. Let’s see here, #1- “south of the border” values caused this death, or #2- a drunk incoherent driver caused this accident. Hmm.. hard to decide.

Shame on those who blame a race over a drunk. A freakin drunk.

GetOverYourself

How’s the weather up there on your high horse?

TooYoungToGo

Go to bed little kid. These conversations are for grown-ups.

other

sorry to say but its not all latino parents i live in a community were its mostly african american and they just have their kids running around alone up and down the street. so dont just blame latinos….people just need to learn how to take care of their kids better and know where they are at all times.
nina

My condelence goes out to my friend n her family may ur lil cousin rest in peace
sylsilva

This young boy’s grandmother works at my job. When I saw the news yesterday I had no idea who the boy was, my daughter was struck by a truck 3 years ago she was crossing the street with my mother in law and the truck turned the corner at a high speed struck her didn’t bother to stop she flew 10 feet had major head trauma and was in a comma for almost a week I am so thankful to say she survived and is doing well. There was never an arrest and this didn’t happen because of bad parenting the truck came out of no where! Our office has been somber all day because of this news and it is very sad to have to bury a child. Our prayers go out to this family and to this grandmother that comes to work everyday very humble but always with a smile…
http://www.dwihitparade.com/2011/05/17/california-man-charged-in-dui-death-of-5-year-old-boy/ DWI Hit Parade! » Blog Archive » California: man charged in DUI death of 5-year-old boy

[...] From CBS News WALNUT PARK — A 5-year-old boy was fatally struck by a suspected drunk driver in Walnut Park Sunday, according to the California Highway Patrol. The accident occurred in the 2500 block of Poplar Place just before 6 p.m., in an area north of South Gate, the CHP reported. ….MORE [...]
sadie

the kid ran into the street because his dad was in the car across the street, and there was a car doubled park so the man that had dranked a beer . he showed low level . he whent around the car and the little boy came out running, both his parents witnessed everything. his mom was with him but he ran awaay from her. poor little boy may he rip