Family, Friends Mourn Loss Of OC Woman, 25, Killed In Suspected Drunken Driving Crash
HUNTINGTON BEACH (CBSLA.com) — Family and friends Monday night mourned the loss of a beloved 25-year-old woman who was killed over the weekend in a suspected drunken driving crash in Huntington Beach.
Kelly Morehouse was riding on a motorcycle with her boyfriend, 24-year-old Taylor Rolfson, when they collided with a Lexus sedan on Goldenwest Street at Rio Vista Drive around 8:35 p.m. Saturday.
Morehouse was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Rolfson was expected to survive, but broke both of his legs in the accident.
The driver of the Lexus, Tadashi Mizutani, 68, was booked on suspicion of felony driving under the influence. He was released from jail Sunday after posting $100,000 bail.
Chanel Fugnetti, Morehouse's best friend, described the moment before the accident to KCAL9's Rachel Kim.
"Her boyfriend, Taylor, they got on the bike and he looked at her and said, 'I'm going to propose to you by the end of summer.' Everyone knew they were going to get married. They've been together for seven years and they were so in love," she said.
Fugnetti said Morehouse was a popular waitress at Michele's Sugar Shack Café and had just earned her Master's in Education.
"We were one. We were so inseparable," she said. "I wish I could have given her a hug, but the last time I did talk to her, I told her I loved her."
Morehouse's brother, Billy Morehouse, said she taught their family about love and life.
"When she walked into a room, everyone knew," he said. "She just came in yelling and ready to go, you know? She was just a social butterfly."
Billy said he wanted the tragedy to be a reminder to others.
"Don't drink and drive. Ever. Even if you've had two beers. Just don't do it," he said.
(©2013 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)
