“The truth is, it’s really sad for us because we come here to this country with lots of plans, with lots of objectives,” said the nephew of one of the victims.
STOCKTON, Calif. — Nearly a week after six Stockton men were killed in a suspected DUI crash in Napa County, their families and friends gathered Saturday at Liberty Park in Stockton to grieve and raise money for funeral costs.
The victims, all farmworkers, had been traveling from Stockton to Napa County when the crash occurred. Among them was 57-year-old Pedro Lopez Gomez. His nephew, Jesus Angel Santiz, said the family is devastated.
“The truth is, it’s really sad for us because we come here to this country with lots of plans, with lots of objectives,” Santiz said. “We have family over in Chiapas that’s waiting for us. So, we come here for necessity, not for pleasure, and sometimes we don’t ever return to our families.”
Community members offered donations to help the families, with some of the money intended to return Lopez Gomez’s body to Mexico for burial. Santiz said the voluntary fundraiser is to help cover burial costs and provide support for relatives.
Authorities arrested 53-year-old Norberto Celerino, of Stockton, on suspicion of DUI causing injury and death. Celerino and another passenger were hospitalized with critical injuries.
That passenger, identified by relatives as Marvin Santiz Ruiz, survived the crash. His brother-in-law, Adonai Lopez Encino, said the family feared the worst until they located him in a Sacramento hospital after several days of searching.
“I went all the way to Napa on Tuesday looking for my brother-in-law Marvin Santiz Ruiz,” Lopez Encino said. “I didn’t find him until Thursday.”
Ruiz’s family in Mexico cried when they thought he had been killed, Lopez Encino said. After surgery for a broken rib and a leg injury, Ruiz remains hospitalized but is recovering.
Relatives said they plan to ask Ruiz what he remembers about the crash once his health improves. They also urged drivers not to drink and drive.
“For all drivers and those who are in charge of other people’s lives, they have to be very responsible,” Santiz said.
Celerino is facing six counts of murder and six felony counts of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. Families said they plan to return to Liberty Park next Saturday from 2 to 5 p.m. to continue raising funds.
People can also call Gabriel Lopez if they’d like to donate funds for Marvin Santiz Ruiz at 209-430-6696.