9-year-old boy hit and killed, brother injured by RV in Koreatown; driver arrested for DUI

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A 9-year-old boy was killed and his 19-year-old brother was injured when they were struck by an RV in Koreatown on Thursday night, according to police.

The driver of the RV remained at the scene and was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, the Los Angeles Police Department said.

The deadly incident happened around 7:30 p.m. near the intersection of South New Hampshire Avenue and 4th Street. According to the LAPD, the driver was making a left turn when he struck the siblings on an e-scooter.

The 9-year-old boy, identified by police as Nadir Gavarrete, was pronounced dead at the scene. His brother was taken to the hospital in stable condition.

A 9-year-old boy was killed and his 19-year-old brother was hurt when they were struck by an RV, police said. The driver was reportedly detained on suspicion of DUI.

Video from the scene shows officers administering a field sobriety test on the driver before his arrest. He was later identified as 46-year-old Jimmy Pittman, who was arrested on suspicion of DUI.

The footage also shows what appears to be a pair of shoes under a front tire of the RV, and a scooter lying in the street near the victim's covered body.

"He almost ran me over... I just got out the way quickly and then he hit some babies," said Candy Williams. "He's always driving too fast and I'm like 'are you high or what?' and he was like 'don't worry about it'... and I was like 'you're going to kill somebody."

Neighbors say they are familiar with the RV and have seen it in the neighborhood, but they aren't necessarily familiar with the driver.

They also expressed safety concerns when it comes to crosswalks in the area and poor lighting.

In a Spanish-language interview with ABC7, Nadir's distraught father, Pedro Gavarrete, said his son "was a very obedient boy, very friendly."

A small makeshift memorial with a few candles and a flower now stands in the spot where the boy was killed.

"These were two bright boys that lived in the neighborhood, actually, and they shared their light with us," Koreatown resident Wendy Cortez said. "They had a fruit stand and they were super kind. ... And it's unfair -- they should've been able to cross the street. They should've been able to play, just like every other child on this block, just like us crossing the street."

A GoFundMe account has been created to help pay for Nadir's funeral and his brother's medical bills.

City News Service contributed to this report.