Placentia

Mother, 2 Children Killed in Fatal Pedestrian Crash in Placentia

"They were really happy girls," a cousin of the girls said. "They just enjoyed life."

Two children and their mother were fatally struck by a car Saturday in Placentia, the Orange County Fire Authority confirmed.

Placentia police said they were in the area of the 800 block of West La Jolla Street when they heard a crash around 10:23 p.m. Saturday. Officers found three people lying unresponsive in the street when they arrived, Placentia police said.

Witnesses at the scene said the three may have been leaving a nearby party.

Police officers called paramedics, but all three people were declared dead at the scene, police said. 

A family member of the victims identified the mother as Patricia Ledesma, and her two children as three-year-old Dayana Ledesma and Stephanie Ledesma, who was seven. Ledesma had two other children.

Their family lived on the street where the crash took place. 

Ledesma's husband told NBC4 that his wife was "loving" and "caring" and that now his family is torn apart.

Roxanna Acosta, 13, one of the two girls' cousins said she will remember the girls' joyfulness the most. 

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"They were really happy girls," Acosta said. "They just enjoyed life."

When asked about her aunt, Acosta said, "she would be serious at times, but she would get along with the family a lot. ... She liked to be connected a lot with the family."

Acosta said their whole family is saddened by their deaths.

"We can't believe that this happened because it just happened out of nowhere," Acosta said. "All of us are very sad, and we're just trying to help the other girls to be strong."

Placentia police said their preliminary investigation showed that a car had crashed into the people, and had hit a second car. 

Nicholas Munoz, 27, of Placentia was driving the car that hit the pedestrians, police said. He was arrested for suspicion of murder and driving under the influence with injury.

He was in custody in Orange County Monday in lieu of $1 million bail. He is scheduled to make his first court appearance on Tuesday in the Central Jail Court. 

Anyone with information regarding the crash is encouraged to call the Placentia Police traffic Bureau at 714-993-8157.

The oldest daughter, Karley, witnessed the deadly crash.

"Rest In Peace mom and my two princesses. I love you mom with all my heart," the 16-year-old posted online. 

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help with the family's funeral expeneses. 

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