2 children injured, father arrested in DUI crash in Atwater

Two young children were injured and their 20-year-old father was arrested late Friday after a suspected drunken driving collision in Atwater, police said.

The 3-year-old girl and 1-year-old boy were taken to hospitals. Police believe the girl may not have been properly restrained at the time of the crash, Lt. Samuel Joseph said.

Police said she suffered at least one broken tooth and was bleeding from her face. She was flown to a Fresno hospital. The boy was taken by ambulance to Mercy Medical Center in Merced as a precaution, police said.

Their injuries were not believed to be life-threatening, Joseph said Sunday.

Cristian A. Menchaca of Atwater was arrested after his vehicle crashed at 10:09 p.m. near Juniper Avenue and First Street, police said.

Officers said Menchaca is the father of both children.

Investigators said Menchaca was driving under the influence and “failed to obey the flashing red light and passed a vehicle in front of him, causing the collision.”

Menchaca was booked into Merced County jail on suspicion of drunken driving causing injury and mistreating a child causing injury, both felonies. He remained in custody Sunday on $200,000 bail, according to booking records.

Jail records show Menchaca has felony convictions for robbery and criminal street gang participation.

This story was originally published May 30, 2015 at 9:39 AM with the headline "2 children injured, father arrested in DUI crash in Atwater."