Seven children and two adults were injured in a crash at a South Los Angeles intersection Saturday afternoon.
Five were hospitalized, three with critical injuries.
The crash occurred at 3:30 p.m., when a Ford Thunderbird apparently ran a red light on Compton Avenue at Imperial Highway (map), striking a left-turning Honda Accord and crashing into a utility pole, Los Angeles police Sgt. April Harding said.
The driver of the Thunderbird got out of the car and tried to flee, leaving behind children in his car, but witnesses led police to him, Harding said. Police took the driver into custody.
At the time of the crash, the Thunderbird contained two adults and four children, Harding said. Two children and one adult were in the Accord.
Those hospitalized were an adult, a 5-year-old, two 3-year-olds and a 6-month-old, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
The damage to the "mangled" cars indicated at least one of the vehicles was traveling at a high rate of speed, and officers were investigating whether alcohol was involved, Harding said.
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About two hours after the wreck, police were seen struggling with a handcuffed man near the site of the crash. The man appeared to resist being placed in the back seat of a patrol car.
Harding said the driver had struggled with officers, but did not have details.
