San Ramon, CA : 3-year-old died, Driver arrested for DUI in crash on Interstate 680 on Friday night, September 9, 2016

A 3-year-old boy died Friday night after his family’s car pulled to the side of Interstate 680 after running out of gas and was struck from behind by an SUV driven by a suspected drunk driver, the California Highway Patrol reported.

Elijah Dunn of San Ramon was identified by the CHP as the child who died of injuries after being airlifted to Children’s Hospital in Oakland.

His mother and two siblings in the car were taken to hospitals – the mom with major injuries and a 1-year-old sister and 11-year-old brother with less severe injuries, authorities said.

Elijah attended Karina’s Daycare and Preschool in San Ramon from the time he was 1 to 2, said Karina Jimenez, the daycare owner. She described him as a lovable, mellow and sweet child.

“It was so devastating for us to hear he was gone,” she said.

He was about to celebrate his birthday at the end of this month, Sept. 26. She said everyone loved him and he came from a beautiful family. Jimenez said she spoke with the boy’s grandmother, who said the family is having a difficult time, and asked for privacy at this time.

The driver of the SUV, Yarenit Liliana Malihan, 38, of Pleasanton, was arrested on suspicion of felony driving under the influence and gross vehicular manslaughter, the CHP reported Saturday. Malihan was transported to the San Ramon Medical Center for treatment of injuries and then transferred to the Contra Costa County detention center in Martinez.

Malihan shares a home address in Pleasanton with an Alameda County Sheriff’s deputy. The two are believed to be husband and wife, CBS reported.

The crash occurred about 6:20 p.m. Friday near the height of rush hour traffic on northbound I-680 near the Bollinger Canyon exit, snarling traffic for more than two hours.

The family – in a Toyota Camry – pulled to the right onto the freeway shoulder to wait for someone to bring them gas, said CHP spokesman John Fransen.

Initial indications are that the family took the appropriate safety measures – staying in their car to the far right until help arrived, Fransen said. A freeway sound wall there prevented them from moving further away from traffic lanes.

“It appears everyone in the Camry was wearing their seat belt and the small children were secured by a child safety seat.” the CHP wrote Saturday in a Facebook post.

Malihan does not have any prior DUI convictions, the CHP reported. Her driver’s license was valid at the time of the crash.

Much of the back of the Camry was mangled when hit by the SUV, a Toyota Sequoia, at an unknown speed, investigators said.

Paramedics transported the three children – Elijah, a 1-year-old sister and an 11-year-old brother, to Children’s Hospital in Oakland and the mother to John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek. ABC News reported the mother has a broken back and ribs and other injuries.

All northbound and southbound lanes were shut down after the crash while the injured child was transported in a medical helicopter. Lanes reopened at 8:51 p.m.

Source :
San Ramon: Driver arrested for DUI in crash killing 3-year-old