As a memorial sprang up at the Lancaster site of a fatal crash that followed a high-speed pursuit, a Palmdale man was in custody Friday on suspicion of felony vehicular manslaughter in the death of a 2-year-old passenger.
The driver, Marvin Travon Hicks, 43, pictured below, was being held on $1 million bail, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. He is due in court Monday.
The girl, who died at the hospital, was identified as Madison Ruano of Lancaster, said coroner's Assistant Chief Ed Winter.
The name of the mother, who was hospitalized in serious condition, was not released. But a neighbor identified her as Tina Ruano.
A fundraising website and Facebook page in honor of the toddler were posted online Friday. The Facebook page featured a photo, below, of her smiling in a pink dress, which was confirmed to show Madison by a Ruano neighbor.
The Facebook page called Madison a "miracle" child, saying she was born prematurely at 25 weeks and weighed less than 2 pounds.
"It was a long, hard battle, for their family but Madison thrived and grew to be a precious little light to ALL who encountered her," the Facebook page stated.
The blue Lexus driven by Madison Ruano's mother was struck by the black Toyota Hicks was driving at the intersection of Avenue I and 10th Street West about 4:55 p.m. Thursday, authorities said.
Balloons and stuffed animals had been left at the intersection, which still bore orange spray paint marks from the investigation that lasted into Friday.
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Sheriff's department Sgt. Paul Pfrehm said the suspect was first seen by deputies when he ran a red light on Sierra Highway, just minutes before the fatal collision.
The suspect allegedly drove at speeds over 100 mph and on the wrong side of the roadway during a brief pursuit.
He was driving west on Avenue I when he struck the Lexus as it headed north on 10th Street West, Pfrehm said.
It was not immediately clear if drugs or alcohol were a factor in the collision, he said.
Court records show a history of misdemeanor convictions, including driving under the influence and hit and run.
Anyone with information on the collision was asked to call traffic investigators at (661) 948-8466.
