Suspect Arrested in Hit-and-Run That Killed Baby

KTLA News
February 3, 2009
http://www.ktla.com/landing_topstories/ ... eedID=1198

LOS ANGELES -- Police are crediting the quick-thinking of a witness in helping them arrest a suspected drunk driver accused of striking a stroller as a mother pushed it across the street, killing an 11-month-old girl and injuring her five-year-old sister.

The incident happened around 6:10 p.m. Sunday at Bonnie Brae Street and Olympic Boulevard in the Westlake area, according to Officer Karen Smith of the Los Angeles Police Department.

The family was headed home from a laundromat when the driver struck the stroller with two children inside, police said.

The three were in a marked crosswalk at the time and other vehicles had stopped for them.

Witnesses reported seeing a Honda driver running a red light as he sped away after hitting the victims.

The 11-month-old was pronounced dead at a hospital. Her older sister was hospitalized in critical but stable condition with a fractured skull and a fractured arm, police said.

The mother had minor injuries.

Rigoberto Lizarraga -- who was driving down the other side of the street at the time -- said he heard an impact, quickly glimpsed over and saw clothes flying in the air.

"I heard tires screech from the suspect's vehicle," Lizarraga told reporters at a press conference Monday. "I quickly did a U-turn and followed the vehicle. He blew a red light."

Lizarraga said instinct prompted him to follow the car.

"I didn't think twice," he said. "I said to myself, `I (have) got to chase this guy and get the license plate number because I don't want to have this family living without knowing who hit the baby girl."

The 27-year-old witness said he was eventually able to catch up to the driver's car and used his cell phone to send a text message instructing a friend to save the vehicle's license plate number before returning to the crash scene to speak to police.

"For me, the most terrible thing was seeing the baby in the corner without life," he said.

Investigators eventually found the suspect's black 1991 Honda abandoned near Staples Center at 12th Street and Figueroa Avenue. They also had surveillance video of him ditching the car, police said.

Officers were able to track down 30-year-old Henry Moreno and arrest him around 11:30 p.m. Sunday, said Officer Sara Faden of LAPD's Media Relations unit.

Moreno was being held without bail on suspicion of vehicular homicide.

"It appears he was driving under the influence when the accident occurred," Faden said.

Police have not released the names of the victims.

LAPD Chief William Bratton credited Lizarraga for following the driver and going "above
and beyond what we would normally ask citizens to do when they witness a crime, particularly one as horrific as this."

Also on hand to thank the witness for his help was the baby's father, who addressed Lizarraga in Spanish.

Investigators say Moreno is from Honduras, though his immigration status is unknown.

Police have referred that issue to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, according to Deputy Chief Sergio Diaz.