3 Hurt as Car Crashes While Fleeing Deputies

A car driven by a suspected drunk driver who was being chased by Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies broadsided a car carrying a family of four in Lancaster, injuring a mother and her two young sons, the Sheriff’s Department reported Monday.

The accident at the intersection of Avenue J and 20th Street at 9:20 p.m. Sunday left Josephine Santos, 25, of Lancaster, in critical condition with multiple internal injuries, deputies said.

Her son, Danny, 5, suffered two breaks in his collar bone, and his brother, Joe, 6, suffered facial injuries. All three were being treated at Antelope Valley Medical Center. Santos’ husband, Andrew R. Santos, 25, was not injured.

Deputy Dan Cox said deputies arrested Timothy Gilliam, 29, of Lancaster, on suspicion of felony drunk driving. Gilliam, who was not hurt, was being held in lieu of $5,000 bail at the sheriff’s Antelope Valley station jail, Cox said.

Deputies on patrol sighted Gilliam driving erratically west on Avenue J about 9:15 p.m., Cox said. When the deputies turned on red lights and siren, Gilliam sped off, Cox said.

Less than a minute later, Gilliam’s car entered the 10th Street intersection and hit the Santos’ car.