Infant Critically Hurt in Head-On Collision

A 4-month-old boy was clinging to life Sunday evening at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital after the car in which he was riding was involved in a head-on collision the night before in Oxnard, authorities said.

The infant, Jesus Sanchez of Oxnard, was among 11 people injured in the 10 p.m. crash at West Laurel Street and Saviers Road, authorities said.

Jesus Garcia Buenrrostro, 19, of Oxnard was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol, said Oxnard police crash investigator Donald Mulville.

Police say the crash occurred when Buenrrostro’s vehicle crossed the center divider on Saviers Road and struck an oncoming pickup truck.

Buenrrostro was treated at St. John’s Regional Medical Center in Oxnard, and was later booked into Ventura County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bail. He remained in custody Sunday, said a jail spokeswoman.

Police say Buenrrostro and four family members, including the infant, were traveling north on Saviers when the car crossed into the southbound lanes.

His car collided with a pickup driven by Samuel Arciniega Nunez, who authorities said is in his early 20s. Inside Nunez’s pickup were five members of his family, police said.

All the occupants of both vehicles were taken by ambulance to local hospitals.

Jesus Sanchez was initially treated at St. John’s Regional Medical Center. Later, he was transferred by a trauma-care team to the pediatric intensive care unit at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital.

The baby was in grave condition Sunday afternoon, according to hospital Nursing Supervisor Linda Jones. She said Jesus suffered massive head injuries.

Family members had gathered at the hospital Sunday to be near the child, Jones said, but they declined to discuss the details of Saturday’s collision.