OXNARD : Man Charged in Hit-and-Run Crash

An Oxnard man who fled the scene of a three-car accident that injured his young son is facing five felony charges, authorities said Wednesday.

David Cervantes Aguilar, 26, has been charged with felony assault, hit-and-run, child endangerment and two counts of drunk driving with injury, Deputy Dist. Atty. Donald Grant said. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 20.

According to police reports, Aguilar was driving while intoxicated Tuesday with his 3-year-old son in the back seat. At the intersection of Wooley Road and Oxnard Boulevard, Aguilar smashed into the car in front of him, driven by Hector Orozco, 37, of Oxnard. Orozco’s car, in turn, was pushed into a third car.

The force of the accident sent Aguilar’s son over the front seat and into the windshield, causing a severe cut to his forehead, Grant said. Aguilar attempted to flee, but his path was blocked by the third car, driven by Marcos Paredes, 31, of Oxnard, police said. Aguilar allegedly smashed into Paredes’ vehicle and then drove off, followed by Orozco. After Aguilar entered an apartment building in the 1700 block of San Marino St., Orozco called police.

Police Sgt. Randy Coates went to the apartment and found a woman who told him that an unknown man had left the bleeding child there and fled. Coates asked for permission to search the apartment and found Aguilar hiding in the bathroom. After Aguilar failed a sobriety test, Coates arrested him, police said.

Aguilar’s son was taken to St. John’s Regional Medical Center, where he was treated and released, officials said. Virginia Zambrano, 55, a passenger in Paredes’ car, was released from St. John’s after being treated for leg and back pains.

Aguilar was being held in Ventura County Jail in lieu of $5,000 bail. He faces five or more years in state prison if convicted, Grant said.