2 KIDS DIE, 10 PEOPLE HURT IN SEPARATE CAR CRASHES.

Byline: - Greg Botonis and Jason Kandel

Two children were killed in separate collisions Thursday in the Antelope Valley - one when a car driven by a 17-year-old motorist ran a stop sign and slammed into the side of a Littlerock family's minivan, the other in a four-car crash.

In the first crash, a toddler was killed and the child's mother and two older siblings were critically injured and were not expected to survive after the teen's vehicle hit their van, officials said.

The father was reported in serious condition, officials said.

``There were no car seats for any of the children inside the van,'' said California Highway Patrol Officer Victor Ruiz. ``All three children were ejected from the van.''

The collision occurred about 12:45 p.m. at the intersection of 105th Street East and Avenue R.

The 17-year-old Palmdale boy, whose name was not released, drove through a stop sign on 105th Street at about 60 mph, CHP officers said. The teen was apparently on his way to school, officials said. Littlerock High School is a quarter-mile from the intersection.

His 1985 Toyota Supra smashed into the passenger door of a 1992 Dodge Caravan driven by Byron Hopkins, 30, of Littlerock.

The impact spun the van onto the northeast corner of the intersection. All three children were thrown from the van, the 2-year-old landing more than 20 feet away.

Hopkins was flown by helicopter to Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills in serious condition. Hopkins' wife, whose name was not released, was taken to Antelope Valley Hospital. The two older children were flown to Childrens Hospital Los Angeles.

The 17-year-old was taken by ambulance to Antelope Valley Hospital with what CHP officials described as moderate injuries.

CHP officials said they expect to seek criminal charges against the 17- year-old.

Later Thursday, a 3-year-old boy was killed and seven other people were injured - five critically - in a four-vehicle crash on 35th Street East at Avenue Q, authorities said.

The boy died at the scene of the crash about 7:45 p.m. Those injured were airlifted by Los Angeles County firefighters to area hospitals.