PERRIS, CA — A fundraiser to help the family of a young woman killed in a crash on Interstate 215 was underway Wednesday, with the goal of gathering enough donations to pay the victim's funeral and other expenses.
Valerie Martinez, 24, of Moreno Valley was fatally injured in the crash just after midnight Sunday on northbound I-215, just north of the Ramona Expressway, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Martinez's brother, David Martinez, started a GoFundMe campaign Monday, seeking contributions to cover the many costs confronting him and loved ones in trying to lay his sister to rest.
"I can't believe I lost her," the young man wrote. "I have never done this before, and I never expected this in my life. This is affecting all of us as a community and a family, and I want Valerie to have her own burial, a place where I can visit to give her flowers."
As of Wednesday afternoon, the campaign had generated $2,866 in donations, with a goal of $11,000. It can be found at gofundme.com/f/help-david-give-valerie-a-peaceful-rest.
"My sister was beautiful. She was a role model, a hard worker and just a giving person, even willing to risk getting fired at her job trying to feed homeless people," Martinez said. "You just never know what might happen. She was taken away from us too soon, a beautiful soul."
CHP Officer Javier Navarro said Martinez was one of two people in a 2008 Mazda 3 "traveling at a high rate of speed" when it veered out of control and struck the center median, then "overturned onto its roof and traveled back into the No. 1 lane."
The driver of a 2015 Ford Explorer was unable to brake or swerve in time to miss the car, slamming into it at an unconfirmed speed, Navarro said.
Martinez was "ejected from the (Mazda) during the crash sequence and sustained fatal injuries," he said.
She was pronounced dead at the scene less than 10 minutes later by Riverside County Fire Department paramedics.
The other occupant of the Mazda, whose identity was not disclosed, suffered unspecified moderate injuries and was taken to Riverside University Medical Center in Moreno Valley for treatment. The party was expected to recover.
Navarro hasn't yet confirmed whether Martinez was the driver or passenger. The GoFundMe page didn't mention it either.
Navarro said the Ford driver and his passenger, neither of whom was identified, escaped injury. Intoxicating substances were not factors in the crash, according to Navarro.
Anyone with information about the accident was asked to contact the agency's Accident Investigation Unit at 951-324-7210.
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