A 25-year-old man suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and crashing head-on last week into a car whose pregnant driver gave birth to a baby girl who died has been booked on suspicion of murder, police said Wednesday.
A 2010 Nissan Altima being driven south on Fulton Avenue, south of Hatteras Street, by Julian Gutierrez of North Hills crossed the double yellow lines and collided with a northbound 1997Acura Integra about 11:05 p.m. Friday, the Los Angeles Police Department reported.
The driver of the Acura, Judith Mauricio, who was eight months pregnant, suffered serious injuries, police said. Mauricio was taken to a hospital, where she gave birth to a baby girl who subsequently died, police said.
"The investigation revealed that Gutierrez was driving under the influence during the time of the collision," according to an LAPD statement. "He sustained minor injuries ... and was treated by paramedics at (the) scene."
Gutierrez was arrested on suspicion of murder and was being held in lieu of $2 million bail, police said.
"He also had a warrant in the amount for $70,000 which increased the bail amount to" $2.07 million, police said without disclosing what the outstanding warrant was for.
