[11-02-2019] Father, Toddler and Mother are Struck and Killed on Halloween Night

The mother of a toddler that was struck & killed while trick-or-treating on Halloween night has become the third member of her family to die following the suspected DUI crash in Long Beach, CA.

Raihan Awaida, 32, passed away Sunday night from injuries suffered in last week’s car accident, according to a news release from the Long Beach Police Dept.

Awaida’s husband, Joseph, 30, passed away at a hospital after being hit on Country Club Drive close to Los Cerritos Park. The family was trick-or-treating and were walking on the sidewalk when an impaired driver had struck them shortly before 10 PM, police said.

The couple’s 3-year-old son passed-away Saturday morning.

Police have not identified the boy’s name, but a GoFundMe webpage identified him as Omar Awaida. According to the webpage, more than 3,000 donors had raised more than $190,000. Another site, Launchgood, had raised nearly $115,000 from more than 1,800 donors.

Police state Carlo Navarro, 20, of Long Beach, failed to make a turn, drove onto the sidewalk & hit the family.

Upon arrival, officers located three pedestrians, a male and a female adult, and one male juvenile. Long Beach Fire Department personnel responded and began administering life-saving measures to the critically injured pedestrians. All three pedestrians were transported to local hospitals, where the male adult pedestrian later succumbed to his injuries.

country-club-dr-and-los-cerritos-park-long-beach

The preliminary investigation revealed that the driver of a 2002 Toyota Sequoia was traveling southbound on Country Club Drive approaching Los Cerritos Park when he failed to negotiate a turn in the roadway, drove up onto the sidewalk, and struck the pedestrians, who were walking southbound on the west sidewalk of Country Club Drive. News of the disaster spread quickly in the close-knit Muslim community in Long Beach. Kenyatta Omar, a close friend & fellow member of Masjid Al-Shareef mosque, described the couple as a”power team” who joined interfaith gatherings, helped feed the homeless, taught Sunday school & volunteered in mosque events.

Navarro was detained on suspicion of driving under the influence & gross vehicular manslaughter.

Navarro was released after posting bail, which records show was set at $100,000. No court date has been released & it was uncertain if extra charges could be filed.

Friends, neighbors, teachers & customers of Joe’s Auto Center, an Awaida family business in Long Beach; voiced shock & heartbreak in news of the catastrophic accident. Well-wishers created a memorial in the wreck site, leaving flowers, candles & stuffed animals.

Dakhil, 32, was a social work intern in Long Beach Unified School District last year that “served so many students with her kind spirit, giving heart & unconditional acceptance of everyone she meets. She is a healer at her core,” wrote Sheri Koller on the GoFundMe page.

Awaida, 30, was working as an office supervisor at his dad’s auto shop & studying to become a doctor, according to Kenyatta Omar, a close friend & fellow member of Masjid Al-Shareef.

Funeral services for Joseph & Omar Awaida were set for 1 PM Monday in the Islamic Society of Orange County, family friend Brian Dokko submitted on Facebook. A candlelight vigil is scheduled for 6 PM Thursday in Los Cerritos Park, 3750 Del Mar Ave.

Police are asking anyone with video or other information about the crash to contact Collision Investigation Det. Sirilo Garcia at (562) 570-7355 or at sirilo.garcia@longbeach.gov

 

Our hearts and prayers go out to friends and family of the victims.

Anonymous tips can be submitted through L.A. Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), downloading the”P3 Tips” program to your smartphone (available in the Apple App Store & Google Play), or even visiting www.lacrimestoppers.org

 

This information is preliminary and is intended for early information use rather than being a formal investigative report.
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