Youth, 16, Also Dies : Mother, Son Killed After Freeway Crash

A young mother and the 5-year-old son she was trying to carry to safety after a freeway accident were killed Wednesday when they were hit by an automobile that also struck and fatally injured a youth standing nearby, authorities said.

Maria de Jesus Ramos, 22, of South El Monte, and her son, Jimmy Acosta, were pronounced dead at the scene of the accident in the southbound lanes of the San Diego Freeway between Valley Vista Boulevard and Mulholland Drive.

Another driver, identified as Yaniv Sidis, 16, of Beverly Hills, died two hours later at St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank.

The California Highway Patrol said the incident began when a car driven by Mario Acosta, 28, of South El Monte, was struck from behind by another auto driven by Sidis.

CHP Officer Bill Smith said the force of the impact caused the hatchback of Acosta’s car to pop open--and two sleeping children fell out into the middle lane of the freeway.

One of the children, identified as Sarai Acosta, 6, got up and ran to safety on the freeway shoulder. But her cousin, Jimmy, seemed stunned.

“They said he just sat there, as though he wasn’t awake yet,” Smith said.

Maria Ramos ran to her son and picked him up, followed by Mario Acosta--just as another car, driven by Stephen Phillips, 22, of Brentwood, swerved to avoid striking them.

Smith said Phillips’ car was going about 70 m.p.h. when it veered to the left, collided with a fourth vehicle, and ricocheted to the freeway shoulder where it struck Sidis, who had parked his car and stepped out.

Phillips’ car then skidded across two lanes of traffic and struck Maria Ramos, Mario Acosta and Jimmy Acosta before coming to a stop.

Mario Acosta was airlifted to UCLA Medical Center where he was reported in fair condition. His daughter, Sarai, was treated at a nearby hospital for head bruises she suffered when she fell out of the car and her mother, Suzanne Acosta, 26, was treated for a cut foot.

Two passengers in the other car struck by Phillips’ vehicle also were treated for minor injuries.

Phillips was released on $2,500 bond after being booked at Van Nuys police station on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter.