The suspect in the deadly Playa del Rey crash was already wanted for DUI, records show
The Los Angeles Police Department has identified a 28-year-old man as the suspect in a car crash in Playa del Rey that killed a 1-year-old boy and his uncle last week.
The department identified the suspect as Moises Santiago Rodriguez Leiva of Canyon Country. Arrest records show he was booked on a misdemeanor and held on a $200,000 bond.
Investigators said they would issue a news release with more details and declined to comment further.
But court records show that — at the time of the May 3 crash in Playa del Rey — Leiva had two outstanding warrants for two DUI charges. The crash killed Roger Sandoval, 1, and his uncle, Oswaldo Sandoval, 25.
The LAPD said in a written statement that the accident occurred at 4:34 a.m. when the driver of a white Jeep Cherokee going south on Vista Del Mar crossed the northbound lane and collided with a blue BMW 5 series.
Los Angeles paramedics said one occupant of the BMW died at the scene and took three others to hospital – including a toddler, who later died.
“The driver of the white Jeep Cherokee left the vehicle at the scene and fled on foot without stopping to identify himself or help as required by law,” the statement reads.
Police said Leiva was arrested three days later.
The crash occurred more than three months after he was arrested in connection with a June 18 DUI charge, according to court records, where he is sometimes identified as Rodriguezleiva. Prosecutors charged him in January with four misdemeanor counts, including driving while intoxicated and driving with a suspended or revoked license. They allege that he refused to undergo a blood or urine test as part of the health check.
A Los Angeles Superior Court judge issued a warrant for his arrest on Jan. 20 after he failed to appear at his trial, according to court records.
Before that case, however, Leiva had another warrant for his arrest in connection with a July 2024 DUI charge. That year, Leiva was charged with several misdemeanor charges including driving with a blood alcohol level over .8% causing bodily harm, as well as hit and run.
Leiva was formally charged in October 2024 and pleaded not guilty, records show.
Leiva attended court hearings in that case, including one in November 2024 where he met with an immigration attorney, records show. His immigration status is unknown.
When he failed to appear in court in January 2025, a superior court judge issued a warrant for his arrest, according to court records.
It is not clear why Leiva was not arrested in that court when he was arrested on June 18.
Leiva’s attorney could not be reached for comment.
Court records show Leiva was arrested Monday on that June 18 DUI charge and pleaded not guilty.
He now faces additional charges in connection with the Playa del Rey collision.
