Beloved Atlanta restaurant employee killed in crash with alleged drunk driver

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — Cesar Alonso Sebastian Marquez was a 21-year-old full of hope and life.

He had been working at Steamhouse Lounge in Midtown Atlanta for about two years.

“He came from Peru to better himself and he was sending money home,” said manager Mitch Frohman. “He was a dishwasher. He moved from dishwasher to the line, to expo. He had a smile on his face every day.”

His life was tragically cut short Dec. 20 along Buford Highway when Doraville police said he was killed by a drunk driver, who did not stay on the scene.

“He left me on Saturday night. Him and one of our other guys on the dishwasher, they ride the train together,” said Frohman. “He got off, I guess he was walking home, crossing the crosswalk and unfortunately a drunk driver ran him over, took off.”

Police later found and arrested the alleged driver, Juan Pablo Sanchez Jiminez. He’s facing charges of DUI-less safe, vehicular homicide involving a hit-and-run, reckless driving, driving without a license, driving without insurance, and failure to obey a traffic control device, according to police.

Now, Alonso’s family is raising money to get him back to Peru for a proper burial.

“Please let’s get him home. I want to get him back to his parents, to his sisters,” said Frohman.

There are many things that the team at Steamhouse Lounge will miss about Alonso. Frohman said there is just a huge void that cannot ever be filled.

“He’s that guy, there’s no replacing. When you’re down and you see a guy like that, brings the kitchen up, brings the morale of our employees up,” he said.

If you wish to help the family get him back home, click here.

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