Mother Arrested After Leaving Toddler at Scene of Hydrant Crash

The driver was found and arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence

A mother was arrested after fleeing the scene of a crash in North Hills Saturday, leaving her toddler alone inside the vehicle, police said.

The crash occurred just after 1:30 a.m. near the intersection of Nordhoff Street and Van Nuys Boulevard, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. No other vehicles were involved in the collision.

Officers responding to the scene found a white four-door sedan had struck and sheared a hydrant, flooding the street and drenching the car with gushing water.

Police found a boy, who appeared to be about 2 years old, in tears inside the car. The toddler was not injured in the crash.

Officers comforted the boy and fed him a bottle before he was taken to a hospital as a precautionary measure. 

The driver, identified as 27-year-old Elizabeth Robles, took off on foot and was later found at her home in Van Nuys about three miles away from the crash. She was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and could also face charges of child endangerement, the LAPD said.

The toddler has since been released to the Department of Child and Family Services.

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