LIVERMORE (KRON) — Family members spoke out Monday night during a memorial for the 40-year-old Seaside woman and her 14-month-old daughter who were both killed after a suspected drunk driver crashed into a Livermore apartment complex where they were attending a party.
The victims, Esperanza Morales and her daughter Juli, were celebrating Rosa Morales’ 19th birthday Saturday evening in Livermore, when a driver lost control near a curve and smashed into the group. The vehicle struck the woman who was walking with three children on a path at the complex, Livermore Police Officer Ryan Sanchez said.
“He took two lives,” Morales said, trying to hold back tears. “I hope it haunts him forever because it’s going to haunt me forever.”
Two young boys, ages 6 and 7, were also hurt during the accident. They were taken to the hospital in stable condition.
I worked the story in morn. Now watch my lead report 5pm. Mom, baby killed by accused DUI driver. @kron4news pic.twitter.com/gGwwyCh4lR— Will Tran (@KRON4WTran) May 4, 2015
Police arrested Brian Jones, 35, of Livermore, on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and another alcohol-related driving count, Sanchez said.
Jones confessed to police that he was at the Livermore Wine Country Festival before the crash. There are unanswered questions about when Jones stopped drinking and what he did after leaving the wine festival, but one source told KRON 4 that Jones stopped at a bar and grill before the crash.
“They stopped serving alcohol at 5 p.m. and the crash happened about an hour and 50 minutes later,” said Sanchez.
Preliminary test results indicate that Jones had a blood-alcohol content of at least 0.13%. The legal limit is 0.08%.
On Monday night, family members gathered at the scene of the accident to remember Esperanza and her baby girl. They are survived by a father and Esperanza’s young son.
“It just sucks that he was to go without his mom for the rest of his life, he’s only ten,” Morales said about her young cousin.
Jones was booked at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin, where he posted $350,000 bail Sunday.
“I hate how they posted the bail so low that the guy got out of jail the next day,” said a sobbing Morales. “It’s like $350,000 was nothing to him.”