A father was arrested on suspicion of DUI Monday morning after his family, including a toddler and infant, was rescued from a burning sport utility vehicle that crashed off an Orange County freeway and into a tree.
California Highway Patrol officers helped four people escape the burning vehicle, which ended up among several trees around 4 a.m. just off the northbound 55 Freeway near 17th Street in Santa Ana. The father, mother and an infant girl suffered major injuries, and a young boy suffered moderate injuries, according to the CHP.
The 22-year-old father was arrested on suspicion of DUI, according to the CHP. The driver appeared to lose control of the vehicle after entering the freeway, according to a California Highway Patrol officer on patrol in the area.
One of the first officers to respond heard crying coming from the SUV. The man was on the ground with a boy next to him pointing at the vehicle, said CHP Officer Timothy Montoya.
Montoya found the 22-year-old mother inside the vehicle, then heard crying coming from the rear of the burning SUV. That's where he found a 9-month-old girl.
"I opened the left rear door and observed a young female infant lying face down in a burning car," said Montoya, a father of two young children. "I just immediately wanted to get that baby out of that situation. I grabbed her and noticed she was covered in blood."
Video showed a CHP officer holding and consoling the injured boy, who was wearing a neck brace.
"Call someone to pick you up," Montoya said. "Don't be driving after you've been drinking."
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According to the DMV, Morales has been in trouble before. He pled guilty to DUI and driving on a suspended license in 2014.
