Man Charged In Dragging Death Of One Year Old Long Beach Child And Injuring Two Year Old

September 13, 2009 (by Horatio Algren) According to reports by a Long Beach car accident attorney, a man from Long Beach has been charged with vehicular manslaughter after dragging death of a one year old child and severely injuring a two year old child.

The man identified as Neely Dinkens was charged with vehicular man slaughter with gross negligence, driving under the influence, hit and run and driving with a suspended driver’s license according to Long Beach Police Officer Jackie Bezart. Dinkins bail has been set at $50,000 according to reports.

According to Officer Bezart the two children, a girl age one and her brother age two were being pulled in a wagon by their parents at the time of the crash that occurred at approximately 8:15 p.m. Friday evening. The accident occurred at the crosswalk at 10th Street and Redondo Avenue, when the wagon and children were struck by Dinkens SUV and drug approximately a block when Dinkens stopped the vehicle to dislodge the wagon and the boy.

According to Long Beach Fire Department Battalion Chief Frank Hayes Dinkens traveled in the SUV approximately another mile with the one year old child and part of the wagon still being dragged. Dinkens stopped the SUV at a residence in the vicinity of Wilton Street and Newport Avenue where the one year old girl and pieces of the wagon were stuck in the wheel well of the vehicle.

Battalion Chief Hayes stated the one year old girl was pronounced dead at the residence the SUV was found and the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office has not released her identity. The two year old boy that was also struck by the Dodge Durango is in critical condition and suffered head trauma. There has been no report if the children’s parents were injured in the hit and run.

According to Officer Bezart witnesses followed the SUV from where the hit and run occurred to Dinkins house and called police. There was also eye witness Enrique Reynoso that was driving south with a co-worker when the SUV was traveling north.

Reynoso saw Dinkins stop and back up which dropped the boy from continuing to be drug by the Durango. A bystander standing in the northbound lane grabbed the child in their arms. Reynoso stated the two year old boy had a large gash on his head and that people were screaming to the driver to stop the motor vehicle, whose window was partially down.