A Halloween night bike ride turned into a nightmare when an alleged drunk driver plowed into a pack of 30 cyclists in Montclair, killing two riders, including a 30-year-old single mom.
Robert Garcia Umanzor, 25, and Rumor Ortiz, 30, were killed when the suspected drunk driver barreled into the group as it rode east on Kingsley Street near Tudor Avenue around 10:39 p.m. Saturday, authorities said.
The driver allegedly dragged one of the victims for more than a mile after the collision.
Ortiz’s death devastated her family, with her brother sharing an emotional tribute to his sister on Instagram.
“I honestly thought I would be the first of my siblings to make [it] to heaven. Rumor, I wish [I] had more time with you, sister, but God’s timing,” he wrote.
“I was trulely [sic] blessed to have a sister like you. Watch over me from heaven time to time…let me know you loved me; meet you in the next life,” he added.
About 100 people gathered at the crash scene Monday to remember the two cyclists, with friends and family describing the victims as beloved members of their community.
“She was kindhearted. She was happy all the time. She brought extreme joy to the group,” Ani Fine, a friend of Ortiz, told KTLA.
Yoly Shively, Umanzor’s aunt, also attended the vigil and remembered her nephew as a a fun-loving and outgoing person who cherished his family and friends.
“He just loved being around people. I know that, and he just loved our family. He was so sociable, I know, with all his friends… Just the way it happened is a tragedy and a message to just be careful, for sure, driving,” Shively told the news outlet.
“Let’s get these drinkers off the road,” Shively added.
Umanzor family has set up a GoFundMe page to raise funds for his funeral.
“Robert’s family is grieving and also dealing with family hardship at the same time,” the fundraiser read.
“With funeral arrangements happening soon, support is needed now to help ease some of the immediate financial burden during an incredibly painful time,” Umanzor’s family said in a statement.
Valentin Alberto Rodriguez, 38, was arrested at his nearby Montclair home early Sunday on suspicion of driving under the influence, felony hit-and-run and gross vehicular manslaughter, police said.
Rodriguez faces charges of driving under the influence causing injury or death, driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.08% or higher causing injury or death, felony hit-and-run involving death or serious injury, and gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.
