Loved Ones Mourn Dad Killed Walking Home From Party By Alleged DUI Motorist
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A fundraiser will be held Thursday to help raise money for the funeral expenses of a 45-year-old man who police believed was killed by motorist suspected of driving under the influence Sunday evening while he was walking home from a family gathering in South LA.
The pedestrian, Rigoberto Antunez, was a father of four ranging in age from 6-19. One of his youngest was walking with his wife when Antunez was hit.
KCAL9's Peter Daut spoke to the grief-stricken family in a story that is Only On 9.
Antunez was crossing Vernon Avenue and not in a cross walk around 12:15 a.m. when the motorist slammed into him.
He was hit by a man believed to have been driving while intoxicated and then by a motorist going in the opposite direction.
Antunez was declared dead at the scene. Officials said he died instantly.
His family and friends gathered at the Antunez home Wednesday evening; the accident occurred about a block from his house.
The driver suspected of driving under the influence has been identified as Santos Morales, 31. He was arrested and charged with misdemeanor DUI. The other driver was not cited.
"It's been hard; it's not easy losing my father. He was everything I had," says Rigoberto Jr.
He said his family is trying to cope with the loss of its patriarch.
Junior told Daut that his father worked seven days a week to support his two sons and two young daughters.
"There's two sisters that now I have to take as my daughters, and I have to teach them what's good from bad," Antunez said.
Antunez Jr. is an LAPD cadet and dreams of becoming an officer. He hopes to make his father proud.
"Now that he's gone, hopefully from above he'll see me wear that actual uniform," Antunez said.
Thursday afternoon and evening, there will be a fundraiser at LAPD's Newton Division (3400 South Central Avenue, 90011) from 12 noon to 7 p.m.