Rialto, Calif. – A catastrophic traffic accident in Rialto claimed the lives of two young sisters, after a man, allegedly driving under the influence, ran a red light and collided with the family’s vehicle. San Bernardino County authorities are prosecuting 28-year-old Alexis Jose Garcia, who faces multiple felony charges, including murder and manslaughter, in the heartrending event that took place late Sunday night.
On that fateful evening, at around 11 p.m., authorities were summoned to the intersection of Riverside and Walnut avenues. Reports detail that a speeding Dodge Ram, driven by Garcia, disregarded a red light and violently struck a Honda Accord. The impact was so forceful that it propelled the family’s car into a nearby tow truck.
The devastating crash resulted in the deaths of 3-year-old Alinah Flores and her 4-year-old sister Neveah Flores. The collision was severe enough to eject one of the girls from the vehicle, scattering their belongings across the crash site – a poignant reminder of the lives abruptly and tragically ended.
San Bernardino County District Attorney Jason Anderson expressed his outrage and sadness over the incident, emphasizing the preventable nature of drunk driving tragedies. “Driving under the influence is a reckless choice with irreversible consequences. Our community mourns as two young lives, full of potential, were senselessly and prematurely taken,” Anderson said.
Further compounding the tragedy, the girls’ parents, Valencia and Marky Flores, survived the crash with significant injuries. Friends of the family have disclosed that the father is currently on the mend from surgery needed to repair a severely broken femur, with a lengthy recovery ahead that will prevent him from working.
Garcia, who police claim fled the accident scene, was apprehended shortly after when his vehicle broke down a quarter of a mile away from the scene. At the time of his arrest, a passenger in his vehicle was found uninjured. He was discovered to have a blood alcohol content exceeding 0.15%, nearly twice the legal limit.
The severity of the charges against Garcia reflects the gravity of the consequences of his alleged actions. In addition to two charges each of murder and vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, he faces a charge for fleeing the scene of a crash resulting in death and two charges related to causing injury while driving under the influence.
An online fundraising campaign has been established by Ciara Yanez, a friend of the Flores family, to support the bereaved family through their overwhelming grief and financial burden. “We’re rallying community support to offer some relief from the medical and funeral expenses during this painfully difficult time,” Yanez stated.
A court date for Garcia’s preliminary hearing is set for Nov. 27. The prosecution is advocating for him to be held without bail, highlighting the need to address DUI incidents with stringent legal measures.
As the community reflects on this tragedy, District Attorney Anderson’s remarks resonate, serving as a somber reminder of the devastating impact of impaired driving and the importance of responsible behavior behind the wheel.