SANTA ANA : Man to Be Booked After Fatal Crash

A 49-year-old man will be booked on a charge of vehicular manslaughter after a three-car accident Sunday afternoon that left one child dead and three other people injured, including two who were critically hurt, police said.

Killed in the 3:17 p.m. accident was Robert Taylor, age 10, of Tustin. His mother and an 8-year-old girl--apparently the victim’s sister--sustained critical injuries.

The Hyundai in which the victim was riding was stopped at a red light in a left-hand turn lane on First Street when it was struck from behind by a van, pushing it into the intersection at Bristol Street. The Hyundai rammed into another car in the intersection and sustained major damage.

Driving the Dodge van that triggered the sequence was Don Currie Edwards, 49, of Santa Ana, police said. He will be charged with vehicular manslaughter, said Sgt. Joe Esther of the Santa Ana Police Department.

“Judging by the damage done to the Hyundai, (Edwards) was traveling at a high rate of speed� when he struck the victim’s car from behind, Esther said.

Robert Taylor was pronounced dead at UC Irvine Medical Center, police said.

His mother, 29-year-old Griselda Taylor, suffered a broken neck, Esther said. She was listed in guarded condition Sunday night at Western Medical Center in Santa Ana, according to a nursing supervisor. Lynell Taylor, 8, apparently the victim’s sister, was in critical condition. A third child riding in the car, whose name was not released, also suffered minor injuries, Esther said. The driver of the Ford hit in the intersection, identified as PhillipeHernandez, 18, of Santa Ana, was not hurt.

Edwards sustained minor injuries.