San Diego

A 4-month-old baby was killed Sunday when he was thrown from the car his mother was driving as she attempted to avoid a collision, police reported.

Leovardo Jaime Salceda of San Diego was sitting in an infant carrier on the front seat--but not strapped to the seat--when his mother swerved to avoid a stopped car in the 5500 block of Imperial Avenue at 9:51 a.m., said Deputy Coroner Ken Bell.

Gabriela Salceda, 21, the infant’s mother, was westbound on Imperial when her car struck the curb on the north side of the street, Bell said. The infant was pronounced dead at the scene, Bell said.

Gabriela Salceda and the car’s two other passengers stayed in the car as it tumbled down an embankment. She was treated and released for minor injuries. Her 56-year-old mother-in-law, Carmen Lopez, was treated for moderate injuries at Mercy Hospital. Salceda’s 12-year-old nephew Patrick Pimental was taken to Children’s Hospital for treatment of his injuries.