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Boy, 3, dies in Saugus crash, other car's driver arraigned for driving without license

SAUGUS, Mass. (MyFoxBoston.com) -- A 3-year-old boy died after a two-car crash in Saugus Monday.

The crash happened at about 10:30 p.m. on Walnut Street at the intersection of Elm Street.

Police say the boy, from Lynn, was in an SUV with his father when the vehicle veered out of the lane, hitting another SUV driven by a man named Daniel Ortega. Police believe the boy's father lost control of the car, a Volvo SUV, and are looking into whether or not the vehicle had mechanical issues.

The boy was strapped into a car seat, and officials are now investigating the type of safety seat used.

Ortega, 40, was treated at a local hospital and released. He was arrested and charged for driving without a license, and held on $1,000 cash bail. Officials say a preliminary investigation suggests Ortega did not cause the crash.

Lawyers said Ortega is an illegal re-entry immigrant, meaning he's been detained by immigration officials before, went back to Mexico, and entered the US illegally again. Ortega has an outstanding warrant from 2005, also for driving without a license.

If he makes bail, Ortega will be detained by immigration agents.
 
Walnut Street remained closed Monday night as officials investigated. The State Police reconstruction team was on scene during part of the investigation.

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