Prosecutor: Life support for 5-year-old boy suspended after family struck by DUI suspect in hit-and-run in Garden Grove

GARDEN GROVE, Calif. (KABC) – A 5-year-old boy was taken off life support just over a week after he and four of his family members were struck by a drunken driving suspect in Garden Grove, prosecutors said Monday.

Jacob Ramirez was taken to a hospital along with his two younger siblings and his parents after they were struck by a 2003 Toyota Camry on the evening of July 7.

The mother and father were riding in bike trailers with the children at 12300 Haster Street at the corner of Twin Tree Lane shortly after 7:30 p.m. when the accident occurred, Garden Grove police said.

Angel Ramirez, 27, and his two children — 5-year-old Jacob and his 7-year-old sister — were hospitalized in critical condition, authorities said. Angela Hernandez Mejia, 25, and her 7-month-old daughter were hospitalized in stable condition. The mother was later released.

At the end of last week, Jacob was declared brain dead.

Ceferino Ascencion Ramos, of Santa Ana, was arrested and charged with hit-and-run causing permanent and serious injury, failure to stop in a hit-and-run causing injury and driving under the influence of alcohol causing injury. All of those offenses are felonies. He also faces increased penalties for putting a victim in a coma or paralyzing him and causing serious bodily injury. Additional charges are expected to be filed, prosecutors said.

According to a criminal complaint filed last week by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, two of the victims were in a coma due to brain injuries.

Prosecutors allege that Ramos got into his car in Santa Ana to drive to a liquor store in Anaheim to buy more beer. He reportedly had a blood alcohol level of 0.22 at the time of the accident.

Ramos did not enter a plea at his arraignment on July 9. His arraignment is scheduled for July 25 at the West Justice Center in Westminster.

A GoFundMe page has been created to help the victims of the crash.