A 19-year-old Federal Way man faces charges of vehicular homicide and vehicular assault after he allegedly crashed into a vehicle along State Route 18, killed a 21-month-old Kent baby riding in the car and injured the boy’s mother, 27, the driver.
Alexis Andaluz Lozano reportedly was driving more than 100 mph and high on drugs at about 2:55 p.m. Oct. 21 westbound on SR 18 near SE 240th Street in Maple Valley when he crossed over the median into the eastbound lanes and slammed into another vehicle, according to charging papers filed Oct. 23 by King County prosecutors.
Lozano is scheduled to be arraigned at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6 in the GA courtroom at the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent, according to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. Lozano posted bail on Oct. 23, according to King County jail records. Prosecutors requested bail to be set at $150,000.
Carmen Pauza, of Kent, the mother of the boy, was on her way to pick up her daughter at day care, according to charging documents. The baby died at the scene. Pauza suffered a severely fractured arm, broken leg and several broken ribs. She was transported to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.
Andrea Al-Sudani, of Seattle, the older sister of Pauza, started a GoFundMe page to help pay for funeral costs, medical expenses, lost wages and rent.
“Our family was struck by an unimaginable tragedy,” Al-Sudani wrote. “My sister, brother-in-law and niece will forever be impacted by the day’s events. Carmen and my nephew Altyn (also known as Bubbs or Tintin) were involved in a devastating collision on Highway 18.”
The King County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the boy as Altyn Grinnell Stevens.
Pauza managed to make a phone call right after the crash.
“While pinned in the vehicle after the crash, Carmen was able to call Altyn (whom little Altyn was named after), who rushed to the scene to see his family,” Al-Sudani wrote. “He has been at her bedside ever since, as she receives treatment at Harborview Medical Center.”
Al-Sudani said her family is caring for the couple’s 10-year-old daughter as Pauza recovers.
“Our family is deeply grateful for the outpouring of love, support, and prayers,” Al-Sudani wrote. “Thank you for standing with us in this time of unimaginable grief.”
According to charging papers, Lozano was initially hospitalized but later cleared to be booked into jail.
A Washington State Patrol trooper interview Lozano after the crash and observed a container of marijuana in the vehicle, according to charging documents. When the trooper asked him what happened, he reportedly responded, “What happened with what?”
The trooper said the crash and Lozano allegedly said, “What crash?”
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