Fox 40 reports on a suspected DUI crash that killed a young boy.
The crash happened on Sunday at the intersection of Marconi Avenue and Bell Street in Arden-Arcade just after 1:30 a.m.
9-year-old Eric “Junnie” Escobedo, Jr. and his mother were on their way home from the hospital when they were struck by a car that police believe was driven by an allegedly drunk driver.
The driver, later identified as 27-year-old Rene Zaragoza, Jr., fled the scene.
One witness, Dushawn Lee, said that he and others tried to pull both Escobedo and his mother from the crash, but Junnie was stuck in the door. Both mother and child were eventually extracted from the vehicle and rushed to the hospital with serious injuries. Junnie succumbed to those injuries and his mother is still in the hospital.
Police arrested Zaragoza at his home. This is not his first DUI charge. He has a previous DUI conviction and was required to have an ignition interlock device installed on his vehicle but failed to do so. He is facing several charges, including murder and felony DUI charges.
One potential consequence of a DUI conviction can include a small device added to your car, an ignition interlock device. This device is a small breathalyzer that is installed into a vehicle. Before it will allow the vehicle to start, a person must blow into it to prove that they have not been drinking. If alcohol is detected, the car will not start. Additionally, 15 minutes after starting the car, the device will need another test to prevent someone from getting a sober friend to blow into the device to start the car. The device also needs periodic tests as the car is being driven. Failure to install an IID when ordered may be a violation of the terms of probation.
