By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2024-11-26 18:52:20 | Updated at 2024-11-28 16:45:59
1 day ago
Two young girls were killed in a tragic drunk driving accident that also hospitalized their father.
Alinah Flores, 3, and her sister Neveah, 4, died on Sunday night after their family's vehicle was crushed near Walnut and Riverside avenues in Rialto, reported KABC.
The Rialto Police Department said the girls were riding with their parents, 24-year-old Valencia Avilez and 25-year-old Marky Flores, in the family's white Honda Accord when they made a left turn onto Walnut Ave.
Then a speeding blue Dodge Ram allegedly driven by a suspected drunk driver ran a red light, broadsided the Honda and caused it to hit a tow truck.
While both girls were in car seats, one of them was ejected from the vehicle and both were pronounced dead at the scene.
Photos of the horrific damage show the rear of the car was completely smashed through and the doors were knocked off.
Avilez was not injured, but Flores is undergoing surgery for a broken femur and will be unable to work until completely healed, according to the family's GoFundMe.
Police said the suspect, identified as 28-year-old Alexis Garcia, fled the scene, but was later apprehended and found to be under the influence of alcohol.
Alinah Flores, 3, and her sister Neveah, 4, died Sunday night after their family's vehicle was crushed near Walnut and Riverside avenues in Rialto
Photos of the horrific damage show the rear of the car was completely smashed through and the doors were knocked off
Garcia was charged with two counts of murder, one count of DUI and one count of felony hit-and-run. He was booked into West Valley Detention Center without bail.
The girl's step-grandmother, Lisa Taylor Avilez, told Fox 11 the family is devastated by the loss.
'I'm lost for words. I just had them two weeks ago. Just went out and bought Christmas clothes for them' she said.
'It's a tragedy. Two innocent babies got their lives taken away. They were a joy. We would have tea parties, riding bikes, I'm at a loss for words.'
Their aunt, Emma Jean, said she will remember the girls as being 'very lovable, sweet. Very smart. Smiling, always laughing! Always doing everything... they'd do a lot.'
In October, a California firefighter cadet was left in a coma after being hit by a suspected drunk driver, just months after being declared cancer-free this year.
Christian Bedolla, 21, was picking up food late at night with a friend after spending time at his girlfriend's house.
The 20-year-old suspected drunk driver ran a red light and crashed into Bedolla's car in in Laguna Nigue.
Police said the suspect, identified as 28-year-old Alexis Garcia (pictured), fled the scene, but was later apprehended and found to be under the influence of alcohol
While both girls were in car seats, one of them was ejected from the vehicle and both were pronounced dead at the scene
The friend was able to get away with minor injuries, but Christian was sent to the ICU in critical condition with significant injuries to his collarbone, pelvic bone, vital organs including a bruised heart and brain.
Bedolla was described as a 'true warrior' by his girlfriend Beeta Safouri, 20, having been diagnosed with a rare lymphoma cancer in 2019 and beating the illness four times.
He applied to return to work with the OCFA after becoming cancer-free from a bone marrow transplant in January.
Bedolla has an Instagram where he would update his followers about his cancer journey. His last post before the crash from September 28 showed the young man with his girlfriend in Europe.
