Boy Killed, 5 Hurt in Crash

A San Pedro man was arrested on suspicion of hit-and-run and vehicular manslaughter early Tuesday a few hours after his pickup rammed into a car stopped for a red light in Long Beach, killing a young boy and injuring five other people, authorities said.

Aldon Dela Pena, 39, fled after the collision that occurred about 9:15 p.m. Monday on Ocean Boulevard, near the Terminal Island Freeway, said Long Beach Police Officer Jana Blair.

Christian Flores, 3, of Carson died at the scene. A boy, 5, was in critical condition and a boy, 2, was in stable condition at a nearby hospital, Blair said.

The driver of the car, Flores’ 19-year-old mother, whose name was withheld, was in stable condition. 15-year-old boy was treated for cuts to his head, and a 23-year-old female passenger was treated and released, Blair said.

Police set up a perimeter and used a bloodhound to search for Dela Pena, who turned himself in at a California Highway Patrol station in Torrance about 1 a.m. He was questioned and arrested about 2:15 a.m.

Dela Pena was traveling westbound about 60 mph in a 45 mph zone, police said.

“He was driving home from work from San Diego, and it is possible he did fall asleep,” Blair said.

Dela Pena’s bail was set at $50,000 and a court date was scheduled for Thursday.