An Orange County family is grappling with an unthinkable tragedy after a 10-year-old girl and two adults were killed in a suspected DUI crash in Placentia.
A family member identified the young victim as Lucero Lopez. One of the adults killed in the collision was Alberto Vicente Lopez, the girl’s stepfather, according to the family.
Several others in the van were treated at a hospital. That includes Lucero’s little brother and their mom, Erica Lopez, who was 7 months pregnant with a baby girl.
Police took a 24-year-old Santa Ana man into custody on suspicion of driving under the influence. Investigators from the Placentia Police Department said the man ran the red light and crashed his black Honda Civic into a church van at the intersection of Orangethorpe Avenue and South Melrose Street at around 8:45 p.m. Wednesday.
Authorities said several people inside the van were ejected. The family member said the victims were coming from a bible study at the Vida Nueva Church.
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Source: NBC Los Angeles