2 children killed in suspected DUI crash in Rialto

RIALTO, Calif. - Two young girls were killed in a three-vehicle crash involving a driver suspected of driving under the influence.

It happened Sunday, Nov. 24 around 11 p.m. near Walnut and Riverside avenues in Rialto, according to police.

The suspected DUI driver, 28-year-old Alexis Garcia of San Bernardino, was arrested for two counts of murder, officials said. He was not injured.

Authorities are currently reviewing surveillance video to figure out how the crash unfolded.

The girls were identified as 3-year-old Alenia Flores and her 4-year-old sister Neveah.

The girl's mom, 24-year-old Valencia Avilez, was behind the wheel of the family car when a blue Dodge Ram, driven by Garcia, ran a red light at the intersection broadsiding their white Honda Accord, which then collided into a tow truck that was stopped eastbound on Walnut.

Two children are dead after a suspected DUI driver, Alexis Garcia, crashed into the Honda Civic they were traveling in on Nov. 24, 2024. / SkyFOX

Avilez's husband was injured, and their daughters died at the scene. 

Garcia was located a quarter of a mile away. Police said his car was disabled. 

Family-provided photo to FOX 11

A passenger who was traveling with Garcia was detained and later released. That person was not injured.

Garcia is currently being held at the West Valley Detention Center on no bail. 

The San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office filed seven charges against Garcia on Tuesday, including murder, vehicular manslaughter and driving under the influence.

"It's horrific. It was 100% preventable," Lamm said. 

Alexis Garcia was arrested for two counts of murder, according to police. / Rialto PD

The girl's step-grandma, Lisa Taylor Avilez, was in emotional pain.

"I'm lost for words. I just had them two weeks ago. Just went out and bought Christmas clothes for them", Avilez emotionally said. 

And, their mom... was in shock. Her husband is in the hospital and her girls are gone. 

To their aunt, Emma Jean, they'll be remembered as, "Very lovable, sweet. Very smart. Smiling, always laughing! Always doing everything... they'd do alot."

Cheryl McMahen, with Mothers Against Drunk Drivers, said drunk driving is the number one killer in America. She's worried this holiday season there will be more tragic crashes like what happened to Alenia and Naveah.

"We have 13,524 fatalities in 2022 and so this is a huge problem", McMahen said. 

A GoFundMe has been created to help the family.