19-year-old accused of attempting to kill several people, including toddler, with car

BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB/Gray News) - A 19-year-old is accused of attempting to kill several people, including a toddler, with a car.

According to the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office, Jose Jarquin Soza, 19, intentionally drove his car into a structure, severely injuring a 3-year-old girl.

Officials said it happened late Saturday night after Soza got into an argument before getting into his vehicle and driving toward the person.

Soza’s vehicle hit the 3-year-old, a stairwell and part of a residential structure. He immediately left the scene, according to arrest documents.

The child suffered life-threatening injuries and was taken to the hospital where she had to have emergency surgery to amputate her left leg.

Soza later turned himself in to the authorities. He’s charged with four counts of attempted first-degree murder, hit and run driving and aggravated criminal damage to property.

Soza was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison.