Witnesses Tackle DUI Suspect After Toddler, 2, Killed In Crash

LOS ANGELES, CA — A suspected drunken driver veered off the road in South Los Angeles, killing a 2-year-old boy, slamming into a building and attempting to drive off with the toddler trapped underneath his SUV until witnesses tackled him and held him until police arrived, authorities said Monday.

The crash happened at 92nd Street near Figueroa Street Sunday at 5:30 p.m., killing Eidan Cortez, a 2-year-old, who died at the hospital.

"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.

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.

City News Service and Paige Austin contributed to this report. Photo: Shutterstock