CHP: Suspected Drunk Driver Kills Father Of 4 In Pasadena
PASADENA (CBSLA.com) — Four siblings will have to grow up without their father, who was killed by a suspected drunken driver in Pasadena Sunday.
Chris Nelson, 41, was driving home from work when the driver of a 1998 Toyota struck his 1992 Toyota on the eastbound 134 Freeway at the Orange Grove Avenue off-ramp at about 12:55 a.m., according to the California Highway Patrol. The Monrovia man died at the scene.
Eduardo Macias of Pasadena abandoned his car and took off, but the 24-year-old was later arrested nearby on suspicion of drunk driving, according to the CHP.
Sadly, Nelson's father was also killed by a drunk driver when he was a boy. "He had lost his father to a drunk driver when he was less than ten years old," said Nelson's wife, Erica. "It does make me angry of course. This person has no remorse."
"I'm really emotional a lot," said the victim's 10-year-old daughter, Natalia. "When I don't see him, it's probably going to be really sad," said another daughter.
The Monrovia man's family said he worked 7 days a week and at times up to 14 hours a day to provide for his family.
"Before he wouldn't eat until we were done. He would always take over the leftovers to save money for us," Natalia said.
Friends have set up a GoFundMe account to help with funeral costs.
They said Nelson was a devoted father, who was so busy trying to provide for the here-and-now, he didn't even have a chance to buy life insurance.