Man to be charged with death of woman who fell from car with child

A 21-year-old Irvine man who sped from a Santa Ana neighborhood after his girlfriend and a 13-month-old girl fell out of his truck Halloween night is set to be arraigned Tuesday on hit-and-run driving charges.

The woman was found dead at the scene, but the child survived.

Francisco Javier Montano was eastbound on West Edinger Avenue in Santa Ana when his 21-year-old girlfriend, Gloria Sanchez, fell out of the vehicle with the infant in her arms, authorities said.

Montano drove off and left them on the street, Orange County prosecutors said.

Sanchez was taken to a hospital, where she died hours later. Her 13-month-old daughter suffered minor injuries, but was listed in stable condition.

Montano, who surrendered to police Nov. 1, is expected to be charged with felony hit-and-run driving causing death or injury, felony child abuse and endangerment and a single misdemeanor count of driving without a valid license.

The woman and her daughter were identified by family members who saw media reports of the incident, authorities said.

Family members told police that the mother and daughter, along with Montano, had been living in the car, said Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna.

Santa Ana detectives continue to investigate the incident and are asking anyone with information to contact Randy Litwin, supervising district attorney investigator at 714-347-8492 or the Santa Ana police at 714-245-8390.

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adolfo.flores@latimes.com