Wed. Dec 18th, 2024

Bautista Decastilla of Westminster, a 26-year-old driver, was arrested after he hit and killed a three-year-old girl in Westminster on Friday night, Jan. 6, according to the Westminster Police Department.

Decastilla was making a left turn from westbound 21st Street to southbound Goldenwest in his Mini Cooper when he failed to yield to the girl and her family, as they were legally crossing Goldenwest on a green walk signal, at Goldenwest Street and 21st Street at around 6:30 p.m.

That intersection does not have turn arrows for eastbound or westbound drivers making turns onto Goldenwest Street.

The little girl, known as Baby Nana, ran out in front of her mother, Shantae Kainalu, and two other children as the family crossed the street.

After the collision she was taken to Children’s Hospital of Orange County, where she died.

Police arrested Decastilla, after investigators spoke with him at the police station.

Investigators also plan to go to nearby businesses to pull surveillance video.

Decastilla was booked into the O.C. Jail on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter and driving without a driver’s license, according to the Westminster Police Department.

Investigators do not believe drugs or alcohol were factors in the crash.

Click here to donate to a GoFundMe account set up for Baby Nana and her family by their relatives. Baby Nana’s mother is currently on disability and raising her 1 year old son and 10 year old son with a disability who has had several surgeries himself.

author avatar
Art Pedroza Editor
Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.

By Art Pedroza

Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.

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