SOLANA BEACH -- A suspected drunken driver was in custody Sunday night, accused of causing a hit-and-run crash that killed a pregnant woman and her unborn child, according to the California Highway Patrol.

John F. Sudac Jr., 27, who resides in both Oceanside and Carlsbad, was booked into the Vista jail on multiple charges, including gross vehicular manslaughter and driving while intoxicated, a CHP sergeant said.

Sudac, in a Nissan Altima, was speeding on I-5 just north of Lomas Santa Fe Drive at about 1 a.m. when he changed lanes abruptly and clipped the back of a Ford Explorer, Officer Mark Latulippe said.

Yine Gonzalez, 24 years old and six months pregnant, was partly thrown from the Explorer when the sport utility vehicle overturned several times, Latulippe said.

Gonzalez, of Tijuana, was taken to Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla, where doctors were unable to save her, according to the medical examiner's office.

Doctors attempted an emergency Cesarian delivery of the 6-month-old fetus Gonzalez was carrying, but the child could not be saved either, the medical examiner's office said.

Gonzalez's husband, 5-year-old daughter and two relatives were also in the car at the time of the crash and were treated for minor injuries, CHP officials said.

Latulippe said a witness stopped for the crash and initially helped Sudac and his passenger. When the witness went to help the family in the Explorer, both men from the Altima fled on foot, Latulippe said.

Later in the day, an attorney called the CHP on behalf of Sudac, Sgt. Tom Greenstone said.

Sudac was interviewed Sunday night before being booked into jail, officials said. In addition to charges of manslaughter and driving while intoxicated, Sudac was booked on suspicion of fleeing the scene of an accident and possessing marijuana, they said.

No information was available about possible bail amounts for the suspect.

Greenstone said that investigators were still looking for a motorist who stopped at the crash site just long enough to steal Gonzalez's purse, which was thrown from the Explorer, Latulippe said.

Anyone with information about the crash or the person who stole the crash victim's purse is asked to call CHP dispatch at (858) 637-3800.

The Oceanside CHP office can be called during business hours at (760) 757-1675.

Contact staff writer Colleen Mensching at (760) 739-6675 or cmensching@nctimes.com.