Woman arrested in alleged DUI crash that killed her 7-year-old son
A woman was arrested on felony DUI charges after officials said she lost control of her vehicle near Point Mugu and crashed, killing her 7-year-old son and injuring two other passengers.
Latoya Najar, 34, lost control of her Mustang while driving home northbound on Pacific Coast Highway around 7 p.m. Wednesday. The 7-year-old and two other boys, ages 9 and 12, were in the car, along with a 33-year-old female friend, according to the California Highway Patrol.
After she lost control, the car veered right and ran off the road, hitting a dirt berm, a tree and finally a concrete wall. It then overturned onto its roof. Although there were five people in the car, it only had four seat belts, authorities said.
A CHP officer arrived first on the scene and began adminstering CPR until the Fire Department arrived. Eventually, the boy was pronounced dead at the scene.
The other woman in the car was transported to a hospital with major injuries. One of the two other boys, both Najar’s sons, was transported to a hospital with a broken arm. The 9-year-old was not injured, according to the CHP.
The mother was arrested on suspicion of felony DUI, vehicular manslaughter and child endangerment.
For breaking news in Los Angeles and the Southland, follow @Caitlin__Owens, or email her at caitlin.owens@latimes.com.
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