by LOS ANGELES, Calif. – A 9-year-old boy was killed and his 19-year-old brother injured after they were struck by an RV driver suspected of DUI in Koreatown Thursday night, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
The tragic collision occurred just before 9:30 p.m. near the intersection of South New Hampshire Avenue and 4th Street, while the siblings were riding an e-scooter.
What Happened
Police confirmed that the driver of the RV, 46-year-old Jimmy Pittman, was seen taking a breathalyzer test at the scene. He has since been booked on DUI charges.
The boy, identified as Nadir Gavarreta, was pronounced dead at the scene, while his older brother was transported to the hospital in stable condition.
A witness described the RV as “flying” down the street moments before the fatal impact. According to Candy Williams, who was nearby, the driver nearly hit her moments before striking the children.
“I was like, ‘Slow down before you kill somebody.’ And he was like, ‘F you.’ … He almost ran me over… and then he hit them babies,” she said.
Ongoing Concerns
It remains unclear whether Pittman was living inside the RV, but locals expressed concern about the growing number of RVs in the Koreatown area.
“Something needs to be done with these RVs. I mean, they are all over. To drive drunk … that’s somebody’s child,” Yvette Railey said.
The investigation is ongoing.
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