Suspected drunk driver charged with murder of California girls, ages 3 and 4

A San Bernardino man has been charged with murder after prosecutors say he ran a red light while driving under the influence, T-Boyed a vehicle and killed two toddlers in the car.

On Wednesday, 28-year-old Alexis Jose Garcia was charged with the murder of two sisters, 3-year-old Alinah and 4-year-old Neveah Flores, in a hit-and-run collision Sunday night in Rialto.

According to the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office, he faces seven felony charges – two counts of murder, two counts of manslaughter while under the influence of alcohol, one count of hit-and-run causing death and two counts of causing injury while driving under the influence.

Prosecutors are seeking an increase in the sentence for Garcia because he was found to have a blood alcohol content of over 0.15%. The legal limit for drivers over 21 is 0.08%. He is scheduled to be arraigned on November 27 and prosecutors have filed motions recommending no release on bail.

“Here we have another tragic drunk driving-related death that was entirely preventable and resulted from selfish and reckless behavior,” said San Bernardino County Dist. Atty. Jason Anderson said in a statement. “There is absolutely no excuse for anyone to get behind the wheel drunk.”

Rialto Police Department officers responded to a traffic collision at Riverside Avenue and Walnut Avenue at 11 p.m. Sunday. A speeding Dodge Ram ran a red light, struck a Honda Accord and crashed it into a tow truck, police said.

The collision killed both sisters and sent one of them flying out of the car, scattering toys and clothing across the intersection.

“These two little girls should be writing their letters to Santa,” Anderson said, “but instead their family is faced with the unthinkable task of writing their eulogies.”

The parents, identified by friends as Valencia and Marky Flores, both survived the crash and were taken to a hospital, police said.

Garcia, the driver of the Dodge, fled the scene and was spotted by Rialto police officers about a quarter-mile away, where the truck appeared to be disabled, authorities said. Garcia had a passenger in the car at the time of the collision, but he was uninjured, police said.

A GoFundMe has been set up to support the Flores family.

“Her father is currently undergoing surgery for a broken femur and will not be able to work until he is fully healed,” wrote organizer Ciara Yanez. “We ask for prayers and donations to help cover medical and funeral costs for her and her two daughters.”