Girls aged 3 and 4 died in collision with Rialto, for which police blame the driver under the influence of alcohol – Daily News

Family members and friends of two girls who died in a hit-and-run crash on Sunday, Nov. 24, mourned them as the driver Rialto police said was responsible for their deaths sat in jail charged with murder.

The Rialto police confirmed the information regarding GoFundMe request to identify the girls by name: Neveah and Alinah. One was 3 years old and the other was 4 years old. Community members left candles, balloons, flowers and stuffed animals at the memorial on Monday evening.

The girls were killed when an intoxicated pickup truck driver ran a red light and sideswiped the car they were riding in, said Officer Rusty Lamm, a Rialto police spokesman.

Lamm said their mother, Valencia Avilez, 24, of Rialto, was driving a Honda Accord north on Riverside Avenue around 11 p.m. The investigation, which is in its early stages, so far shows she was attempting to turn left on the green arrow onto Walnut Avenue, Lamm said.

A Dodge Ram, driven by 28-year-old San Bernardino resident Alexis Jose Garcia, was speeding through a red light, Lamm said, and sideswiped the rear seat area.

Forces pushed the Honda into eastbound traffic on Walnut, where it collided with a tow truck.

The girls were pronounced dead at the scene. Their parents were taken to hospital and hoped they would recover.

Lamm said the car was equipped with child seats.

Lamm said Garcia was under the influence of alcohol and was arrested a quarter-mile away when his car broke down.

Garcia was booked into the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga on suspicion of murder, DUI causing injury and hit-and-run causing injury. He was held without bail.

Police are asking anyone with information about the collision to contact Sgt. Dan Smith at 909-644-6025 or leave information anonymously via WeTip at 800-782-7463 or at wetip.com referring to case no. 932413118.