North Bay Woman Killed In US 101 Crash Was Single Mom Of Twins, 3

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — A fund-raising effort is underway to benefit the two young children of a North Bay woman killed last month in a crash authorities say was caused by a Santa Rosa man accused of driving drunk. Rosa Lua, 45, of Windsor was raising her 3-year-old twins as a single mother, a friend of Lua's said Wednesday in an email to Patch.

"Her untimely death is a huge loss," said Carla Wolters-Cornejo. "This is a tragedy that will impact the Lua family forever."

The tragedy struck the night of March 20 as Lua — described on GoFundMe as "an exceptional single mom" — was driving a blue Honda Civic southbound on U.S. Highway 101.

She was traveling just south of River Road when, according to authorities with the California Highway Patrol and the Sonoma County District Attorney's Office, she was rear-ended at 10:59 p.m. by a Silver Ford Fusion driven by a man twice convicted of DUI: 31-year-old Fernando Leon Aguilera.

The impact of the collision sent the Honda off the freeway and into a guardrail, where it overturned then hit a fence and a tree, according to CHP Public Information Officer David deRutte.

Emergency personnel with the Santa Rosa Fire Department responded to the scene but sadly, Lua was pronounced deceased from injuries suffered in the collision.

Aguilera was arrested at the scene, deRutte said.

• DUI Suspected In Fatal US 101 Rollover Crash: CHP

The Sonoma County District Attorney's Office, which sent its on-call investigator to the scene that night, has charged Aguilera on suspicion of murder, DUI and gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. He is being held without bail in Sonoma County jail and is scheduled to appear in court April 26.

"We are all deeply saddened by this senseless tragedy," Rosa Lua's sister, Marisela Lua Killian, wrote on GoFundMe. "Not only did Zane and Zara lose their mother, but our mother lost her daughter, my siblings and I lost our sister, her nieces and nephews lost their auntie and her friends lost a true friend. Rosa is irreplaceable to us, and especially to Zane and Zara."

Wolters-Cornejo described her late friend as a "funny, intelligent, loving, independent woman" who "will be sorely missed by all those whose lives she touched."

Lua's twins will turn 4 years old in July, according to Wolters-Cornejo.

Killian said her sister "lived for spending quality time with her babies."

"She taught them American Sign Language to aid them in communicating as babies and ensured they learned how to speak Spanish before learning English to honor their Mexican heritage," Killian wrote.

As of Wednesday night, more than $20,000 had been donated toward the family's fund-raising goal of $250,000.

"Many friends and family have expressed interest in helping Zane and Zara, therefore creating this fund for their education, health and well-being," Killian wrote. "For those of you wanting to make a direct gift, please reach out to the family. Your donations will be used to establish a fund for Zane and Zara."

Click here to view the GoFundMe page, signed by the Lua, Killian and Elliott families.

— GoFundMe is a Patch promotional partner