Alleged Driver in Death of Girl Arrested by Police

Sheriff’s deputies have arrested a Santa Ana man who reportedly fled last week after a teen-ager on a bicycle crashed into the rear of his parked truck and died.

Jose Rigoberto Sandoval, 38, was booked Thursday on suspicion of felony hit and run, said Sheriff Lt. George Johnson. Sandoval was held at James A. Musick Branch Jail in Irvine in lieu of $10,000.

In a freak accident Sept. 17, Alethea Kwok, 15, of Trabuco Canyon rode her bicycle into the back of a pickup truck and died of massive head injuries, authorities said.

Kwok, riding to work from school, was headed west along Los Alisos Boulevard toward Trabuco Road when she hit the back of the truck. Witnesses told deputies the driver of the parked vehicle got out of the truck, looked at the girl and then got behind the wheel and drove away.

Sheriff’s authorities said it is a crime to leave the scene of an injury traffic accident. Johnson said deputies were able to arrest Sandoval using information from a witness of the accident.

Further details of the arrest were not available late Friday.