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A community in Southern California has been left heartbroken after their own families of three was tragically killed during an alleged drunkard motorist who strike them on Halloween night while they only walking on the sidewalk.
Joseph Awaida, Raihan Dakhil-Awaida, and their 3-year-old son Omar sadly all succumbed to their harms in the days following the fatal accident, according to a press release from the Long Beach Police Department( LBPD) and a GoFundMe page created by the family’s loved ones.
The deadly crash related to the 2002 Toyota Sequoia and the three pedestrians occurred on Thursday night in Long Beach just before 10 p.m.
Authorities said the family was sauntering on the sidewalk near Country Club Drive and Los Cerritos Park Place when the motorist, identified as Long Beach resident Carlo Navarro, “failed to negotiate a turn in the roadway, drove up onto the sidewalk, and hit the three pedestrians.”
“Long Beach Fire Department personnel reacted and began administering life-saving measures to the critically injured pedestrians, ” a spokesperson with the LBPD wrote, adding that “all three pedestrians were transported to neighbourhood hospitals.”
Not long after arriving at the hospital, Joseph, 30, sadly died from his injuries. Two days later, an LBPD spokesperson confirmed that Omar had passed away on Saturday, while the child’s mother, 32 -year-old Raihan, likewise died on Sunday night.
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Their unexpected deaths in the residential area on Halloween left neighbors heartbroken and speechless.
“It’s just tragic. Never visualized it coming, ” Mark, a neighbor whose residence cameras captured the accident, told The Long Beach Post News.
Navarro, 20, was detained by powers at the scene, where a DUI investigation was initiated. He was later arrested and booked into Long Beach County Jail for driving under the influence and gross vehicular manslaughter.
Inmate records obtained by PEOPLE indicate that Navarro was liberated on Friday, Nov. 1 on a $100,000 bond. No tribunal date has been released.
It is not immediately clear if Navarro has retained legal representation yet.
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The Awaidas were a beloved family in their Long Beach community, according to The Long Beach Post News.
For times, Joseph had worked at his father’s repair shop, Joe’s Auto Center. A letter posted outside of Joe’s Auto Center, obtained by the outlet, says the store is now closed until further notice due to the unexpected deaths.
“Thank you for your assistance. Joseph desired his community here, ” the note reads.
The “tight-knit, religious family” also often involved themselves in volunteer activities all over the Los Cerritos neighborhood.
“They are kind, compassionate, and adoration parents, ” Michele Winterstein, executive director of the nonprofit For The Child, told the neighbourhood outlet. “This is a devastating loss to their families and to all of us in the nonprofit world-wide who knew them and obtained from their volunteer service.”
Their demises is particularly destroying for Joseph’s mothers, who already suffered the loss of their other son, Omar, after he died from his injuries in a hiking coincidence in 2014, in agreement with the Post News.
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In the wake of the misfortune, the Awaida family’s loved ones have been rallying together — first to be included in medical overheads on GoFundMe, and now to assist with funeral expenses, with the remainder of the funds to go towards a long-lasting legacy project.
Within three days, over $209,000 has been raised on the page.( Another fundraiser on LaunchGood has also been created for their own families, with an additional $ 163,000 grew on that platform .)
Their relatives have also applied the GoFundMe to share fond memories of the Awaidas and spread the word about their upcoming vigils, services, and burials, which are all scheduled for this week.
“Angel and I are so sorry for this family’s loss. We ought to have patrons at Joe’s auto repair for over 5 years and have had Joseph afford us goes residence many times. The loss of him, his wife and child is heartbreaking. Please accept our condolences, ” wrote one person.
“We are stunned and saddened to hear about the loss of such a wonderful family, ” added another user.
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One of the first memorial occurrences held was a prayer on Monday afternoon at the Islamic Society of Orange County. According to KTLA, millions of people proved up to the service to pay their respects to the Awaidas.
Anyone with information on the fatal accident is asked to contact Detective Sirilo Garcia with the Long Beach Police Department at 562 -5 70 -7 355 or sirilo.garcia @longbeach. gov.
Those with information may also submit anonymous gratuities through “LA Crime Stoppers” by cry 1-800-222-TIPS (8 477 ).
Read more: people.com
