Driver charged with murder in hit-and-run death of 12-year-old girl

A 26-year-old Santa Ana man has been charged with the murder of a 12-year-old girl who died when the suspect allegedly slammed into her family’s car during a high-speed chase, the Orange County District Attorney’s office said.

Aleksander Apostoloic, charged with killing the girl and injuring her brother and mother, is set to be arraigned Monday afternoon.

Apostoloic has been charged with murder, aggravated assault, hit-and-run driving, evading arrest and residential burglary, according to the Orange County District Attorney’s office. He is being held on $1-million bail.

Police in Westminster said the suspect led them on a brief pursuit before he broadsided a minivan, killing the girl and injuring the child’s mother and brother. The girl was identified as Vivian Nguyen.

Instead of stopping, the driver jumped from his car and ran from the scene, authorities said. He was later found hiding inside a bathroom of a house in the area.