A suspected DUI driver has been arrested after a 12-year-old bicyclist was killed in Costa Mesa over the weekend.
The Orange County Register reports that on Sunday, December 6th at approximately 6:00 p.m., Richard Levalle, 59, was driving his pickup truck eastbound on Arlington when he blew through a stop sign at the intersection of Arlington and Junipero Drive and struck 12-year-old Noel Bascon.
Bascon had been out with his father riding his bicycle when the accident occurred.
An eyewitness attempted to perform CPR on the boy while emergency crews came to the scene. Costa Mesa Police officers responded to the scene and also attempted life-saving measures on the boy.
Bascon was taken to an area hospital for treatment of injuries he suffered in the crash. Officials say that the boy died of his injuries shortly after he arrived at the hospital.
In a statement, Costa Mesa Police told reporters that Levalle was arrested at the crash scene on suspicion of murder, driving under the influence of alcohol, and violation of parole.
Police officers also arrested 56-year-old passenger Lee Anna Diaz-Murphy on suspicion of possession of controlled substances and unlawful drug paraphernalia.
Levalle is currently being held without bail.
The accident remains under investigation. Costa Mesa Police detectives are asking anyone with any information about the crash to contact Traffic Investigator Kha Bao at (714) 754-5264.
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