Local News in Brief : 12 in County Die in Holiday Traffic
At least 12 traffic deaths were reported during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend in Los Angeles County, including that of a 12-year-old boy who was run down and killed while riding his bicycle, authorities said Monday.
In the period between 6 p.m. Wednesday through midnight Sunday, 66 people were killed in traffic accidents statewide, compared with 62 during the same period last year, California Highway Patrol spokesman Officer Ernie Garcia said.
In the latest accident in Los Angeles County, Joel Espina, 23, was arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter while under the influence of alcohol after he allegedly ran over and killed Carlos Grinaldo Jr., 12.
Espina fled the scene at 43rd Street and Menlo Avenue, near the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, after the accident 12:30 p.m. Sunday, but was chased more than 10 miles by witnesses and was finally stopped by a motorist and police in Wilmington, Los Angeles police said.
CHP officers arrested 533 motorists in the county for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, 35 fewer than during the same period last year, Garcia said.
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