GoFundMe Page Launched For Temecula Children Killed, Injured In Crash

TEMECULA, CA — The family of a little girl killed in a Temecula crash has started a fundraiser to help pay for her funeral costs and to assist with medical bills for the child's siblings who were injured in the wreck that's been blamed on drunken driving by their mother.

Julia Marie Arellano, 8, of Temecula died in the head-on crash that was reported around 6:21 p.m. Sunday on state Route 79 South near Anza Road.

" ... our world crumbled and our family was left in shambles when we discovered that my nieces and nephew, Mario (age 12), Julia (age 8) and Jenavieve (age 5) were involved in a horrific car accident," Daniel Arellano, the paternal uncle of the children, shared in a GoFundMe post.

According to Arellano, the two surviving children were airlifted to Riverside University Health System Medical Center. Jenavieve was subsequently released from the hospital but Mario's injuries were more substantial, including a collapsed lung, broken arm, and several cuts and abrasions, he said.

"With heavy hearts, we are turning to friends and family during this time to help us lay our beautiful Julia to rest and help my brother cover the extensive medical bills as my nephew continues his battle to recovery, as well as setting up savings accounts for Mario and Jenavieve," Arellano said in the GoFundMe post. "Anything that you could give would help and would be greatly appreciated."

As of early Friday afternoon, the GoFundMe post had raised just over $16,000.

A 1:27-minute-long video shared on the GoFundMe post runs through Julia's short life — a unicorn-themed birthday party, missing front teeth, trip to the zoo, proud school days, happy times.

The family is grappling with the alleged cause of Sunday's crash: The mother of Julia, Mario and Jenavieve was driving the children while drunk, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Jessica Marie Nieto, 33, was hospitalized with injuries following the crash she allegedly caused, but on Wednesday she was booked into county jail on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, DUI causing bodily injury, DUI with injury, and willfully harming a child, according to jail records. She was released from custody the same day on a $75,000 bail bond.

Formal charges against Nieto had not been filed as of Friday afternoon, according to court records.

In addition to Julia's death and injuries to her siblings, the crash also injured three other people who were in the vehicle that was hit head-on by the Honda Pilot Nieto was driving.

In an email, Arellano shared, "No parent should have to bury their child, especially at the hands of the other parent's actions. We are all left speechless and hurt knowing circumstances could have been prevented."

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