Ice Cream Truck Hits Minivan in Valley, Kills 11-Year-Old

The driver of an ice cream truck was arrested on suspicion of murder Saturday after his truck hit a minivan in the mid-San Fernando Valley, killing an 11-year-old boy, authorities said.

Police said they believe that Aristidi N. Arevalo, 51, was driving drunk. He was to be booked Saturday night after being treated at a hospital, said Lt. Steven Allen of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Valley Traffic Division.

Oliver Gallegos of Mission Hills was pronounced dead at the scene.

Four other people in the minivan suffered varying degrees of injuries, said Jim Wells, a spokesman for the Los Angeles Fire Department. None of the injuries appeared life-threatening.

The accident occurred about 1:30 p.m. in Mission Hills when the ice cream truck collided with the minivan, driven by Oliver’s mother, Sandra Gallegos, as she made a left turn.

Authorities did not reveal additional details about the accident, but said they believed that Arevalo was at fault.

Also riding in the minivan were Juan Aguirre, 13, a nephew of Sandra Gallegos, Bobby Castillo, 9, and Anthony Castillo, 5. The Castillo boys are neighbors of Gallegos, officials said.

Aguirre was taken by ambulance to Providence Holy Cross Medical Center with a depressed skull, fire officials said.

The Castillo brothers were flown to Childrens Hospital in Los Angeles, Wells said. Bobby Castillo suffered multiple fractures of facial bones, and Anthony Castillo suffered a fractured femur.

Sandra Gallegos was treated at Holy Cross for numerous injuries. Arevalo, who was alone in the ice cream truck, was treated at Granada Hills Community Hospital for neck and back injuries and lacerations, Allen said.