The aunt of the woman killed in Friday's solo crash in Berkeley has set up a memorial fund to help her family with its expenses.'
"We are all devastated with this tragic loss," said Rosie Namdar, the sister of Medardo Lopez and sister-in-law of Margie Lopez, Milanca Lopez's parents. "Millie was their pride and joy."
Lopez was riding in the front seat and her son Xavier in the back when the car in which they were riding smashed into a roundabout at the intersection of California Street and Allston Way, then struck a tree. The Cadillac was crushed by the impact and Lopez was pronounced dead at the scene.
Court records show 6-year-old Xavier, a kindergartener at Malcolm X Elementary School, remains on life support at Children's Hospital of Oakland. Yesterday, police arrested the driver of the car, Jose Lumbreras, 24, who is also hospitalized. Lumbreras faces numerous felony counts including gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and drunk driving causing great bodily injury.
In addition to her parents, who live in Hawthorne, Calif., Lopez left behind two brothers and five sisters, Namdar said.
"We are overwhelmed by the generous hearts that have reached out to many of us in the family by pledging prayer and support for our brother Medardo and his family as they suffer the loss of their beloved daughter Milanca Lopez," Namdar said in a message on the memorial site.
Friends have set up a Facebook memorial page that has drawn more than 380 followers.
"Milanca was a very special individual, the kind of individual that you knew was going to do something important with her life," says a post from a fellow student.
"You were like 'super woman' to me, you could do anything and everything you set your mind to," wrote a childhood friend.
