Los Angeles, Ca
Orange County family mourns great-grandmother killed by DUI driver
A beloved great-grandmother was driving home from church services early morning on Jan. 1, her family said, when she was hit head-on by a DUI driver and later died in the hospital.
“She was only 10 more minutes away from making it home safely,” the victim’s family members wrote on a GoFundMe page. “She left us praising the lord until her last day.”
The crash happened around 1:45 a.m. at Marguerite Parkway and Pueblonuevo Drive in Mission Viejo, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.
The driver, 26-year-old Geraldine Caicedo-Perez, is now facing DUI and gross vehicular manslaughter charges – meanwhile, family members of the victim, 66-year-old Ynes Lagunes-Soto, are mourning her tragic passing.
“The lady was my mother and I am very sad because she didn’t deserve to die, to be killed by that person who wasn’t well,” the victim’s daughter, Monica Lagunes, told KTLA’s Chris Wolfe.
Family members said Lagunes-Soto, who lived in San Juan Capistrano and worked for 25 years as a housekeeper, always put family first and was happiest surrounded by her many loved ones.
“For me, it is something that I will not get over and I am very angry with the person who caused this accident,” said Lagunes. “I would want them to pay for everything that they did.”
According to the sheriff’s department, Caicedo-Perez is being held at the Orange County Jail. Her bail and next court date were not immediately made available.
“We’re maintaining our faith,” said Lagunes-Soto’s grandson, Emmanuel Heredia. “I think God has a plan for us and for her as well.”
The Orange County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the deadly collision and said anyone with information or evidence should contact the department.
Los Angeles, Ca
California primary election results: governor and L.A. mayor races
With a little more than half of the vote counted, Republican Steve Hilton opened a one-point lead over Democrat Xavier Becerra in California’s governor’s race Wednesday morning, 27% to 25%, respectively. Democrat Tom Steyer was in third with 20%, raising the strong likelihood that Hilton and Becerra will advance to November’s runoff. Meanwhile, Los Angeles […]
Los Angeles, Ca
L.A. police in pursuit of suspected car thief
Officers with the Los Angeles Police Department are in pursuit of a person behind the wheel of a vehicle that has been reported stolen. Preliminary, though unconfirmed, details suggest the suspect stole the vehicle, a 2012 Hyundai, in downtown L.A., near the intersection of 7th and Figueroa streets. The suspect is believed to have struck […]
Los Angeles, Ca
2 women killed after being struck by BMW in Orange County intersection
An investigation is underway after two women were struck and killed by a driver in Orange County on Monday night. Dispatchers received multiple 911 calls around 9 p.m. reporting that a BMW had hit two pedestrians at the intersection of Magnolia and Cerritos avenues in Stanton, an Orange County Sheriff’s Department spokesperson confirmed. When deputies […]
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