Boy, 4, Dies; 2nd Victim in Crash With Suspected Drunk Driver

A 4-year-old Santa Ana boy died late Saturday at Western Medical Center from head wounds he suffered during a car crash earlier that evening, according to police.

The child, Ruben Quiroga Jr., became the second fatality in the crash, which occurred after a suspected drunk driver hit the car driven by Quiroga’s cousin, Sonia Ruiz, 14.

Ruiz died at the scene, Sgt. Dick Faust said.

Another passenger, Elina Quiroga, 14, Ruben’s sister, was not seriously injured, Faust said.

Fernando Perez, 27, of South Garnsey Street in Santa Ana was arrested a block from the Flower Street and Wilshire Avenue crash.

Faust said Perez ran from the scene but was captured and held by witnesses until police arrived.

Perez, who was on probation for drunk driving and was driving with a revoked license, was arrested on suspicion of murder, leaving the scene of an accident and driving under the influence, Faust said.

Police said Sonia Ruiz had borrowed the car from a friend for a ride around the block.