The mother of a 12-year-old who was killed by a drunk driver called for justice Thursday.
Speaking in Spanish, Elva Sebastian shared her heartache in a raw interview next to flowers that lay next to where her son Santiago Gaspar died.
Santiago was in a Nissan Altima with another adult and child when their vehicle was hit by an alleged drunk driver. The driver took off when an officer tried to pull him over around 11 p.m. Tuesday night, Oceanside Police said.
Police identified the driver as Edward Minot Jr., 20, of Mill Spring, North Carolina, who is a Camp Pendleton Marine. Oceanside Police said they arrested Minot Jr. for suspicion of driving under the influence and gross vehicular manslaughter.
The Marine Corps confirmed Minot Jr. is with the 1st Maintenance Battalion. “1st Marine Logistics Group commits itself to high standards for personal conduct, both on and off duty, and will continue to cooperate with the Oceanside Police Department while the incident is being investigated,” said COMMSTRAT deputy director 1st Lt. T. Trey Judd in a statement.
Gaspar’s family is now fundraising online to help pay for his funeral.
(Photo reporting partner 10News)