Peninsula Boy, 5, Killed With Mom By Suspected Drunk Driver: CHP

BAKERSFIELD, CA — A young Peninsula family is suffering a devastating loss, after both a mother and her son died in a fiery crash brought on by a suspected drunk driver over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, according to the California Highway Patrol. The mother was just 21 years old and the boy was just 5 — and both have since been identified as Half Moon Bay residents.

According to CHP Officer Roberto Rodriguez, the crash happened in the Bakersfield area along State Route 99 on Friday around 4:15 p.m. The Half Moon Bay family was in a 2002 Jeep, headed southbound on the highway when they got a flat tire, and pulled to the center median to check it out.

Meanwhile, a 22-year-old Redlands man who was allegedly intoxicated — identified as Daniel Mejia — was also headed southbound on the highway, in the fast lane in a 2017 Chevy truck, according to Rodriguez.

"[The Jeep's driver] stopped his Jeep in the center median divider and activated the hazard lights to change a flat tire," Rodriguez said in a news release. "As the Chevy approached the Jeep, Mejia allowed his Chevy to drift to the left into the center median divider, where the left front of the Chevy collided into the right rear of the Jeep."

The Jeep was thrown onto its left side against the center median, trapping the four occupants inside, Rodriguez said. The Chevy veered across the freeway lanes and came to a stop on the right dirt shoulder.

"The Jeep subsequently began to catch on fire and several motorists stopped and were able to remove all occupants," the CHP officer said. "Other motorists also began to use fire extinguishers to extinguish the fire."

Inside the Jeep were: 25-year-old Juan Rodriguez Garcia, 21-year-old Karla Mendoza, 5-year-old Emiliano Mendoza and 3-year-old Zoey Mendoza, according to the CHP and family reports.

Young Emiliano died shortly after the crash, while Karla died a bit later at the hospital, according to the CHP.

Mejia was arrested on suspicion of DUI causing injury, the California Highway Patrol said. Jail records indicate he was being held at the Kern County jail in lieu of $130,000 bail.

A GoFundMe account created for the Rodriguez/Mendoza family indicates that Zoey Mendoza underwent leg and hip surgery following the wreck. Loved ones are hoping to raise enough money to help with medical bills and to send the bodies of Karla and Emiliano to Mexico where they will be laid to rest.

As of Monday morning, approximately $3,900 had been raised for the family. Click here if you'd like to donate.

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Image via GoFundMe