Man posts bail after hitting mother, baby in Coachella crosswalk

A La Quinta man was arrested Tuesday night on suspicion of felony dunk driving causing serious injury after he struck a woman and her baby while they were using a crosswalk in Coachella.

The driver was identified as 41-year-old Frank Arechiga. He was booked into the Riverside County Jail in Indio but was released Wednesday on $50,000 bail.

Thewoman and her infant son were hospitalized with non life-threatening injuries after being struck in Coachella while strolling near Bagdouma Park.

According to a Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, the couple was walking their 8-month old son across Avenue 52 at Douma Street sometime after 7:15 p.m. when Arechiga’s Honda Accord hit them in the crosswalk while he was driving westbound.

Apparently Arechiga tried to brake when he saw the lights of the crosswalk, but couldn’t stop in time.

The mother and the baby in the stroller were struck. The woman suffered a broken leg and head trauma, and the baby was thrown from the stroller.

The baby was in a car seat in the stroller and suffered only minor injuries. The father was not hit by the sedan, according to the Sheriff’s sergeant.

Arechiga was taken to a hospital for a precautionary examination before
being booked into jail. He was released on bail Wednesday morning and is due at the Larson Justice Center on Dec. 2.

Avenue 52 was closed until just after 9 p.m. while officers handled the investigation and cleared the scene.

News Channel 3 and CBS Local 2 will keep you updated as the case moves forward in court.