BAKERSFIELD – A Filipina was killed in a gruesome car crash by a suspected drunk driver on the morning of January 3 in Bakersfield, California.
Princess Flores Almonidovar, 22, was on a night out with friends and had just dropped off a friend on her way home before she figured in a vehicular accident at the intersection of Ming Avenue and New Stine Road.
Neil Martinez, a friend and co-worker of the victim, said he was driving east on the far right lane of Ming Avenue behind Almonidovar’s silver Toyota Celica before the fatal crash happened.
Martinez, 29, told The Bakersfield Californian that he remembered seeing Almonidovar slow down as they approached the intersection, but continued on. Just as Almonidovar entered the intersection, Martinez saw in his peripheral vision another car coming in fast south on New Stine.
A speeding Volkswagen Beetle hit Almonidovar’s car on the next instant. According to reports, Princess was killed upon impact just around 3am.
Martinez said he heard the sound of crunching metal and swerved his own car to the right to avoid the crash site.
Michael Kellams, who lives in an apartment on the southwest corner of Ming and New Stine said he woke up when he heard the sound of the car crash. His bedroom window was shattered by debris from the crash. Kellam said that he saw ‘a disfigured car’ on the center divider of New Stine.
“It was gone. The top was ripped off,” Kellams told The Californian.
Reports said that Alex Rubio, the 24-year old suspected driver who supposedly hit Almonidovar, was arrested by Bakersfield police after he allegedly fled the scene. Authorities said that Rubio is being held on a $170,000 bail.
According to Balitang America, Rubo was charged with driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol, felony hit and run, felony vehicular manslaughter, and resisting arrest.
The investigation on the crash is still in progress.
Martinez said Almonidovar had the green light to cross the intersection before Rubio crashed into her.
Almonidovar was a respiratory therapist at the San Joaquin Community Hospital for 18 months, where she worked with Martinez. In a separate statement, San Joaquin officials said that Princess was ‘loved by her co-workers and was a shining example for young people working toward a career.’
“She will be missed by everyone,” hospital officials said.
Although both of her parents also held their own jobs, Princess was the primary provider for her family. The Californian reported that she bought her family’s Bakersfield home.
Princess’ pastor father, Joseph Almonidovar, said that this tragedy should be a lesson to everyone against using drugs and drinking while driving. Even if a driver under the influence of drugs or alcohol is left unharmed, they may still cause harm on other people around them, Joseph said.
(With reports from The Bakersfield Californian and Balitang America)
(www.asianjournal.com)
(LA Weekend January 11-14, 2014 Sec A pg.1)
