Friends and colleagues of a
”
wonderful mother, cheerful woman and a friend to many
”
are reaching out to the community to find support for the five
children she left behind.
Friends and colleagues of a “wonderful mother, cheerful woman and a friend to many” are reaching out to the community to find support for the five children, ages 14 to 28, she left behind.
Lourdes Sanchez, 48, of Morgan Hill was killed early Tuesday morning when a Dodge Durango slammed into her Nissan Sentra on Santa Teresa Boulevard at Day Road West. Julian Navarro-Murillo, 26, the driver of the Durango, was arrested on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter and driving under the influence, both felonies.
Navarro-Murillo appeared in court Thursday with his private defense attorney, Ruben Munoz, for his arraignment. With the help of a translator, Superior Court Judge C. Randall Schneider informed Navarro-Murillo, a fresh wound on the bridge of his nose, of his rights. He will enter a plea 9 a.m. Sept. 26 in Department 90 at the South County Courthouse in San Martin. His bail has been set at $75,000.
In cases like Navarro-Murillo’s, the defendant could be charged with murder if previously convicted of a DUI. He, however, has no previous DUIs and after reviewing the case, Deputy District Attorney Patricia Henley said she did not feel that would be an appropriate charge.
The accident occurred about 7:19 a.m. Tuesday as Sanchez was traveling south on Santa Teresa Boulevard. Navarro-Murillo was traveling northbound. It was not immediately clear what caused the accident, Gilroy Police Department Sgt. Jim Gillio said, but the two vehicles collided head on and came to rest in the southbound lane on Santa Teresa, trapping Sanchez. She was pronounced dead at the scene, and the accident is under investigation.
A small memorial erected by friends stood outside the guard station at Eagle Ridge Wednesday morning, commemorating the site supervisor that waved dozens of residents into the development every day.
“I have lived at Eagle Ridge for five years where Lourdes worked that whole time,” wrote Nicole Leidig. “My family and I talked to her everyday. I am very saddened by what happened to her.”
“She was great,” said Daryl Hudson, a fellow security guard who worked with Sanchez for the last year. She was on her way to work when she was killed, he said. Having worked the nightshift, he was waiting for Sanchez to relieve him.
Hudson said the phone had been ringing off the hook with people calling to offer donations and condolences. A vase of white roses sat on her old desk with a note reading “You will be missed Lourdes.”
“She was an extremely hard worker,” said resident Romaine Veronda. “So many people in Eagle Ridge were touched by her. When she didn’t show up, it really was – it takes the air out of your lungs, It’s a sad day.”
Veronda described a woman with a friendly face that knew everyone by name and always filled in if one of her colleagues didn’t show up.
Visitation hours will be held between 5 and 9 p.m. today, at Mehl’s Colonial Chapel in Watsonville. A Mass will be celebrated at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, at St. Patrick Church in Watsonville.
Police believe several other motorists and a bicyclist witnessed the crash and are encouraging them to contact police.
“We’re not sure what people saw, but we’d appreciate them calling us,” Gillio said.
Already, many acquaintances are asking how they can help.
“She has smiled and waved through many Gilroy residents and many of us are left wondering what we can do,” wrote resident Paige Moore.
Donations for the family can be dropped off at the Eagle Ridge guard station, Veronda said. She asked that donors submit their gift in an envelope marked with their name. Donations can also be made to the Lourdes Sanchez Donation Fund, bank account number 505292217 at Wells Fargo, which will help fund funeral expenses.
Anyone with information may call officer Nestor Quinones at 846-0350.
