UPDATE: Suspect in Horrific Pittsburg Double-Fatal Crash on Probation For Prior DUI
PITTSBURG (CBS SF) -- A horrific car crash in Pittsburg killing a child and her dad has shattered lives. A man is in custody and suspected of driving under the influence.
Family and friends gathered at the site of the crash on John Henry Johnson Parkway and West Leland Road to remember a 7-year-old girl and her father, who died at the scene.
"This is a nightmare that I want to wake out of but I can't," said Dolores Nogueda.
Police say 25-year-old Christian Vargas, driving a black Chevy Camaro around 6 pm Monday, crashed into the Corrina Rosalez family's white Corolla, killing the father of 3 young children, all ejected from the car, including his eldest daughter Sela.
"My daughter in-law called me and said Sela died and I screamed, I said no you're lying," said Nogueda.
"My stomach was hurting and I was crying. It just hurts," said family member Christina Aguilar.
Family members said the two younger siblings Nico and Julienne taken away in stretchers, are in stable condition after surgery.
"Sela just came to my house two days ago, brought me a gift," said Nogueda.
Family members say Corrina Rosalez will survive.
"Corrina is in bad shape. She's been crying crying and crying because she hasn't even gotten to see Sela," said Nogueda.
"We need your prayers. It's going to be a hard road, and a long journey," said Nogueda.
Earlier Tuesday, Pittsburg police released additional details on the fatal DUI crash , including that the 25-year-old suspect arrested was already on probation for a prior DUI conviction.
Police said Vargas displayed signs of impairment when they arrived at the scene. There was a 10-year-old inside his car, who also suffered serious injuries.
According to police, officers responded to the collision just after 6 p.m. Monday, on West Leland Road just east of John Henry Johnson Parkway. Arriving officers found the badly damaged Chevy Camaro and a Toyota Corolla and discovered three juvenile passengers from the Corolla had been ejected from the vehicle.
Police later determined the juveniles were a one-year-old, a four-year-old, and a seven-year-old. Fire and medical staff on scene helped treat the injured crash victims, who were transported via helicopter or ambulance to area hospitals.
Police said that collision evidence and witness statements indicated both cars were traveling east on West Leland Road when the the Camaro -- which was traveling at a high rate of speed -- collided with the rear of the Corolla. The collision caused the Corolla to lose control and crash into several trees.
Police said the driver of the Corolla, suffered major injuries due to the extreme impact of the collision and was pronounced dead at the scene prior to being transported to a hospital. The front passenger also suffered major injuries but is expected to recover.
The three children in the Corolla were seated in the rear seat of the vehicle, including the one-year-old who was seated in an infant car seat. All three suffered serious injuries and were transported to area hospitals. The seven-year-old child later died while being treated at the hospital.
Police said Vargas was not injured in the crash. He was placed under arrest for driving under the influence. Two passengers in his Camaro, one of them a ten-year-old child seated in the rear seat, suffered serious injuries and were also transported to area hospitals.
Police said Vargas was found to be on active court probation at the time of the accident for a prior driving under the influence conviction.
Pittsburg police booked Vargas and he was later transported to the Martinez Detention Facility. He is being held on the charges of felony gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, felony driving under the influence resulting in bodily Injury, and a violation of probation.
Pittsburg police said detectives and officers with the department's Fatal Accident Response Team completed the investigation into the crash and will present the case to the Contra Costa County District Attorney later this week.
Kenny Choi contributed to this report.
