ESCONDIDO, Calif. (KGTV) — ESCONDIDO, Calif. (KGTV) – A man suspected of driving under the influence in a crash that killed a 13-year-old passenger in his car pleaded not guilty Wednesday in his initial court appearance.
Alexander Tito Oroz faces a felony charge of gross vehicular manslaughter and two felony charges of DUI causing bodily injury in connection with the April 27 crash that resulted in the death of Rodrigo Tapia Jr.
The 20-year-old Oroz is currently being held in jail without bail.
According to Escondido Police, Oroz was driving his girlfriend, Jasmine Tapia, and her brother, Junior Tapia, when he crashed at North Broadway and Country Club Lane.
RELATED: 13-year-old killed in Escondido DUI crash; driver arrested, several injured
Prosecutors echoed statements that Tapia's family had previously made: Both passengers were telling Oroz to slow down.
Oroz, prosecutors alleged, was driving at least 90 miles per hour at the time of the collision.
"I can't imagine how he was feeling when he was coming down the hill," Norma Tapia said of her son in the car, while fighting back tears. "He told him to stop, my daughter did too, and he kept pushing the gas pedal."
Community comes together to help grieving family
At the same time court was in session in Vista on Wednesday, community members in Escondido spoke about their efforts to rally around the Tapia family.
Jessica Lopez is married to one of Tapia's other sisters. She's also a student at the Stay Fresh Barber Academy in Escondido. She's only been enrolled for three weeks, but she asked the owner of the shop if it would help put on a fundraiser. The owner says Stay Fresh will donate profits from haircuts from Thursday to Sunday to Tapia's funeral expenses.
"There was no hesitation for them to say yeah about the barber fundraising," Lopez said. "It's been truly amazing."
RELATED: Family members mourn loss of 13-year-old boy killed in Escondido DUI crash
Meanwhile, the Escondido Little League, where Junior played baseball is also organizing a fundraiser. The league plans to serve food at Mountain View Park on Saturday morning until food runs out.
"It's been tough," Tapia's coach Manny Valdez said. "One minute he's here, next minute he's not."
Valdez, who is helping with the fundraiser, said its been hard on his players and everyone involved with the league.
"He loved the game of baseball, he loved his friends, he loved his teammates, you know? He's just one of those kids where, dude, no matter where you put him, [he'd] give it 100%," Valdez told ABC 10News.
This weekend, the league will be selling food to raise money for the funeral too.
In addition to the Stay Fresh and Escondido fundraisers, there is also aGoFundMe set up for the family.
