Father Who Allegedly Abandoned Son After Car Accident Pleads Not Guilty

A man who allegedly crashed his pickup truck on Interstate 5 near Old Town before running off, leaving behind his badly injured 4-year-old son, pleaded not guilty Thursday to two felony charges in a downtown courtroom.

Angelo Fabiani Arroyo, 40, is accused of fleeing the scene of the crash that occurred Sunday at about 8 p.m. near Rosecrans Street.

Arroyo went "crazy, crazy" and ran all the way to Imperial Beach, arriving with blisters on his feet, family friend Martha Tolles told reporters after the hearing.

"This was a horrific, horrible accident," Tolles said.

Deputy District Attorney Teresa Santana said the defendant's pickup, which was hauling a small water-craft trailer, rolled down an ice plant-covered embankment and came to rest with its passenger side atop a concrete retaining wall.

"At that point, the suspect got out of the truck, went around the side, got in the back and unhooked the child's car seat," Santana said. "The child fell out the window, landing about seven feet below on the concrete."

Valentino Fabiani Arroyo was being treated for severe head injuries at Rady Children's Hospital, where the "prognosis is not good," the prosecutor said.

According to Santana, numerous witnesses saw the crash and tried to help the boy as the driver fled. He was arrested Tuesday in Imperial Beach.

The father was charged with hit-and-run causing serious injury and child endangerment, and faces seven years in prison if convicted, she said. He's on probation for a drunken driving conviction, she said.

Two friends of the defendant said he was a great father who must have panicked when Valentino was hurt.

Tolles said it would take "a miracle from God" for the boy to survive.

Superior Court Judge David Szumowski set bail at $150,000 and scheduled a readiness conference for June 17.

–City News Service