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The family of a motorcyclist remains devastated after he was killed by a drunk driver who was speeding at over 100 miles per hour in Orange County.
The victim was identified as Alexander Marce, 28, an Anaheim resident.
On June 12, Alexander was stopped at a red light on Orangethorpe Avenue in Fullerton when a driver in a BMW struck him and ejected him off his bike.
The suspect continued driving away while dragging Alexander’s motorcycle, which was still wedged underneath the car, for a “significant distance,” said the Fullerton Police Department.
Witnesses followed the suspect and were able to detain him until police arrived at the scene. The suspect was identified as Francisco Garcia-Vargas, 44.
At the time of the crash, Garcia-Vargas had a blood alcohol level of almost three times the legal limit and was driving at more than 100 mph toward a red light without slowing down, prosecutors said.
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The victim, Alexander Marce, 28, is seen in a personal photo. (Marce Family) -
A motorcycle is seen wedged underneath a car after a fatal crash involving a suspected DUI driver in Fullerton on June 12, 2024. (OC Hawk) -
The victim’s motorcycle helmet is seen on the street after the rider was killed in a crash with a suspected DUI driver in Fullerton on June 12, 2024. (OC Hawk) -
The suspect was arrested after failing a sobriety test in Fullerton on June 12, 2024. (OC Hawk) -
The suspect was arrested after failing a sobriety test in Fullerton on June 12, 2024. (OC Hawk) -
A motorcycle is seen wedged underneath a car after a fatal crash involving a suspected DUI driver in Fullerton on June 12, 2024. (OC Hawk) -
A motorcycle is seen wedged underneath a car after a fatal crash involving a suspected DUI driver in Fullerton on June 12, 2024. (OC Hawk) -
A motorcycle is seen wedged underneath a car after a fatal crash involving a suspected DUI driver in Fullerton on June 12, 2024. (OC Hawk)
The victim’s family remains heartbroken and devastated over Alexander’s death.
“Alexander was magnetic,” said Erika Diaz, the victim’s aunt. “He was incredibly determined. He brought so much light.”
“My two sisters came into the house crying and my mom and I woke up, we were extremely scared,” recalled Carlos Marce, the victim’s brother. “We had no idea what was going on.”
Alexander was an aspiring musician who had put his dreams on hold to help earn money to support his family while his mother was battling cancer.
“He didn’t deserve to be murdered this way,” Carlos said. “In such a horrendous and tragic way.”
Video recorded following the crash showed the suspect stumbling during a field sobriety test. Police said he did not try to stop or pull over to help Alexander after hitting him.
“It hurts me and affects the whole family that a man in this state could just run over somebody and continue revving the vehicle,” Carlos said.
Garcia-Vargas was arrested and charged with three felonies including gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, driving under the influence of alcohol causing injury, and driving with a blood alcohol content of .08% or higher.
If convicted on all counts, he faces up to 10 years in state prison.
Alexander’s family hopes that sharing this story will serve as a stark reminder to others that driving under the influence is never worth it.
“It’s not just risking your life, but other people’s lives, innocent lives,” Carlos said. “It’s not worth it.”
Alexander’s aunt said the family is also lobbying for stricter laws when it comes to DUI drivers.
“A vehicle is a killing machine,” said Diaz. “There’s got to be some type of severe consequences for individuals when they get involved in accidents like this. We are hoping we can set up a meeting with a state senator to discuss some type of bill [addressing these issues.]”
A GoFundMe page to help Alexander’s family with funeral expenses can be found here.
While investigating the crash, a police cruiser that was blocking traffic on Orangethorpe Avenue was struck by a motorist in a Tesla that was in self-drive mode.
The crash caused the police car to spin around, leaving the front end heavily damaged. An officer was standing near the vehicle, but jumped out of the way just in time and was not injured.
A fast-growing wildfire in Hesperia has prompted evacuations Saturday night.
The Hesperia Fire was first reported around 6 p.m. in the 18000 block of North Highway 173, according to CAL FIRE San Bernardino.
By 8 p.m, it grew to over 300 acres. By 9 p.m., it was over 500 acres and by 10:30 p.m., it was over 700 acres.
An evacuation warning is in place for the Lake Arrowhead Estates community near Highway 173 and Arrowhead Lake Road. Road closures in the area have also been issued by California Highway Patrol.
Firefighters and air crews have responded to the scene to battle the blaze. As of 10 p.m., the fire was at zero percent containment.
The cause of the vegetation fire remains under investigation. Officials said the expansion remains wind-driven and continues burning north.
“Crews from the ground and air continue to work on permittee control, containment lines and structure protection,” said the San Bernardino County Fire Department.
A poor air quality warning due to smoke from the fire was issued by the Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District on Saturday night.
This advisory covers San Bernardino County and will remain in effect through Sunday, June 16.
“This advisory may be extended or amended further, consistent with smoke and fire behavior, firefighting efforts, NWS and air quality forecasts,” officials said.
Residents living in the area were urged to take precautions. Those most susceptible to issues from unhealthy air include children, the elderly and people with heart and respiratory illnesses.
In areas impacted by smoke or poor air, residents should:
- Consider avoiding any vigorous outdoor or indoor exertion
- Keep windows and doors closed
- Run your air conditioner if you have one – recirculation function is ideal
- Avoid using a swamp cooler or whole-house fan to prevent bringing outdoor pollutants inside.
- People with respiratory or heart disease, older adults, and children should remain indoors
More information from CAL FIRE can be found here.
On Saturday night, firefighters continued to battle the Post Fire that ignited near the 5 Freeway in Gorman. That fire has grown to over 4,400 acres.
This developing story will be updated as more information becomes available.
A rapidly growing third alarm fire near the 5 Freeway in Gorman is threatening structures and forcing evacuation orders, according to authorities.
According to the Los Angeles County Fire Department, the fire was reported at 1:48 p.m. As of 2:40 p.m., it was spread across 500 acres.
The fire was reported to be on the side of the southbound lanes of the 5 Freeway, though the department said the freeway was not on fire.
Structures were being threatened and evacuations were in place, though it wasn’t immediately clear which structures and what specific areas were evacuated, and whether any containment had been made.
Gorman is a small unincorporated area in northwest L.A. County and is a common stopping place for food and gas along the 5 Freeway.
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