Suspect in custody on suspicion of DUI, vehicular manslaughter after deadly Pittsburg crash

A 25-year-old man is in custody on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter and driving under the influence after a crash that killed a man and 7-year-old child in another vehicle in Pittsburg on Monday evening, police said.

Christian Vargas was arrested after officers responded shortly after 6 p.m. to the crash involving a Chevrolet Camaro and Toyota Corolla on West Leland Road in the area just east of John Henry Johnson Parkway.

Investigators determined Vargas was speeding in the Camaro and rear-ended the Corolla, which had a driver, front passenger and three young children ages 1, 4 and 7 in the rear seat. The Corolla crashed into several trees and all three children were ejected from the vehicle, according to police.

The Corolla driver died at the scene and all three children were hospitalized. The 7-year-old later died at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland. The Contra Costa County coroner’s office has not yet released the name of the Corolla driver and the Alameda County coroner’s bureau hasn’t released the name of the child.

Vargas had two passengers in the Camaro who suffered serious injuries, including a 10-year-old child who was also taken to a hospital.

Vargas was eventually booked into county jail in Martinez and was also found to be on probation for a prior DUI conviction.

The crash remains under investigation by Pittsburg police, who reopened the roadway early Tuesday morning.