A 29-year-old Santa Ana man accused of driving with a blood alcohol content nearly three times the legal limit was charged Wednesday, July 17, with vehicular manslaughter after a 5-year-old boy critically injured in a Garden Grove hit-and-run died a week after the crash, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office said.
The hit-and-run occurred the evening of July 7, when a family of five was struck and injured by a black 2003 Toyota Camry as they rode e-bikes on Haster Street near Twintree Lane in Garden Grove. Both parents had bike trailers attached to the e-bikes, with the father, 27, carrying his 5-year-old son and 6-year-old daughter while the mother, 25, rode in front with the couple’s 7-month-old daughter.
The suspect, Ceferino Ascencion Ramos, fled the scene after driving into all five family members, according to a witness who called police and followed Ramos until he was arrested roughly a mile from the crash, officials said.
Ramos, who had a blood alcohol content of .22% during his arrest, faces additional felony charges including driving under the influence of alcohol causing bodily injury, driving with blood alcohol of .08% or more causing bodily injury, and hit and run with injury, the District Attorney’s Office said. He’s due in court for arraignment July 25.
All five family members were hospitalized. The couple’s 5-year-old son, Jacob, was removed from life support after being in a week-long coma without any brain activity. His father remains in a coma after suffering a fractured skull and bleeding in the brain. The mother and 7-month-old girl were released from the hospital with minor injuries, along with Jacob’s 6-year-old sister after undergoing surgery for her injuries.
Prosecutors have also charged Ramos with two felony enhancements of causing brain injury and great bodily injury. If convicted on all charges, he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years and four months.
