Boy, 11, Killed in Crash With Ice Cream Truck

The driver of an ice cream truck was arrested on suspicion of murder Saturday after a traffic accident in which an 11-year-old boy riding in a minivan was killed, authorities said.

Police believe Aristidi N. Arevalo, 51, was driving under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident. Arevalo was to be booked after being treated at a local hospital, said Lt. Steven Allen of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Valley Traffic Division.

Oliver Gallegos, 11, of Mission Hills, was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

Four others in the minivan suffered varying degrees of injuries, said Jim Wells, a spokesman for the Los Angeles Fire Department. None of the injuries is believed to be life-threatening.

The accident occurred about 1:30 p.m. at Arleta Avenue and Chatsworth Street, police said.

Authorities said the ice cream truck struck the minivan, driven by Sandra Gallegos, the mother of the boy killed, as she was making a left turn.

Authorities did not reveal further details on the accident, but said they believed Arevalo was at fault.

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

Egura 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 of Los Angeles, Wells said. Bobby Castillo suffered multiple fractures of facial bones and Anthony Castillo suffered a fractured femur, authorities said.

Sandra Gallegos was also 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.