UPDATE, AUG. 5, 2:08 P.M.: The uncle and guardian of a 6-year-old Santa Ana boy–who died in a Monday afternoon car crash–has passed away from the injuries he suffered as well, according to the county coroner.
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David Wayne Cote, 54, of Santa Ana, was pronounced dead at Orange County Global Medical Center in Santa Ana at 8:45 p.m. Tuesday, according to the county coroner's office. He had been driving a BMW with his nephew Ivan Sandoval in the front seat, but not in a booster seat that was in the back of the car as required by law, when they were t-boned by a Nissan around 12:40 p.m. Monday on St. Andrew Place near Bristol Street. The boy died a short time later at UC Irvine Medical Center in Orange. Cote was suspected of being under the influence of narcotics and 35-year-old Nissan driver Armando Cruz of Santa Ana was booked on suspicion of felony driving under the influence of alcohol, according to Cpl. Anthony Bertagna, the Santa Ana Police spokesman. But after initially surmising Cote did not properly yield the right-of-way–thus causing the collision–crash investigators are now trying to determine whether Cruz was speeding, said Bertagna, who added the Nissan driver has a prior conviction for driving under the influence and could face murder charges based on what the investigation uncovers.
Meanwhile, a GoFundMe.com campaign has been launched to raise money for Cote and Sandoval's funerals. Here is the pitch:
David Cote and his nephew Ivan Sandoval were in a tragic accident that took both their lives. David was a hard-working, loving, caring father who provided for his wife, nephew and mother. Ivan who was to turn 7 next Sunday was a funny, bright and loving child who was taken too soon.
We are asking for help. We are graciously accepting any amount you can give. The money you give will go to the expense of a double funeral service.
The family would like to thank all who donate and all who have been supportive throughout this tough time.
Click here to give.
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ORIGINAL POST, AUG. 4, 6:07 A.M.: Police suspect both drivers, including the uncle of a 6-year-old boy who died from his injuries, were under the influence when a t-bone collision happened in Santa Ana Monday afternoon.
The collision occurred about 12:40 p.m. at Bristol Street and St. Andrew Place, where a Nissan rammed into a BMW and pushed it 150 feet, according to Santa Ana Police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna.
The Nissan driver was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and booked at the city jail. But it does not appear he was at fault in the collision because the BMW failed to yield the right of way at the intersection, Bertagna said.
The boy, who had been sitting in the front seat of the BMW and had not been strapped into a car seat, was taken to UC Irvine Medical Center in Orange, where he died during surgery Monday afternoon.
His uncle and legal guardian, who is suspected of driving the BMW while under the influence of drugs, was taken to Orange County Global Medical Center (formerly Western Medical Center Santa Ana), where he was in the intensive care unit but expected to survive.
It will be up to prosecutors to decide what charges, if any, to bring against the uncle, Bertagna said.
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OC Weekly Editor-in-Chief Matt Coker has been engaging, enraging and entertaining readers of newspapers, magazines and websites for decades. He spent the first 13 years of his career in journalism at daily newspapers before “graduating” to OC Weekly in 1995 as the alternative newsweekly’s first calendar editor.