A young girl is dead and a man is in custody after an alleged DUI crash in Delaware.
Police say a 19-year-old man was driving a 1999 Chevrolet Trailblazer eastbound on John J. Williams Highway around 9:20 p.m. on Saturday in Lewes. Police say the Trailblazer stopped and had its left turn signal activated as the driver prepared to make a left turn into a driveway.
At the same time, police say 24-year-old Henry Mazariegos of Georgetown, Delaware, was driving a 2002 Mazda Protégé eastbound on John J. Williams. Police say Mazariegos failed to observe the Trailblazer and struck the back of the vehicle.
Police say 2-year-old Genesis Santizo was a passenger in the back of Mazariegos’ car. The young girl was not properly secured in her seat and the seat wasn’t properly secured in the vehicle, according to investigators. The impact of the crash caused her to be ejected and propelled forward inside the car.
Santizo was taken to the Beebe Hospital where she was pronounced dead due to traumatic injuries.
Mazariegos was properly restrained and refused medical treatment, according to investigators. Police also say the 19-year-old driver of the Chevrolet was not injured. Two of his passengers, a 17-year-old man and a 21-year-old man, suffered minor injuries.
After further investigation, police say they determined Mazariegos was driving under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash. He was arrested and charged with vehicular homicide, driving under the influence and other related offenses.
Mazariegos was committed to the Sussex Correctional Institution on $13,001 cash bond. Police have not yet revealed his relationship with the young victim.
