Selma family mourns father they say died in DUI-related north Fresno crash

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A Selma household is reeling aft a northbound Fresno clang claimed their loved 1 precocious past month.

"He was precise hugging," Elisa Zarate said of her member Gabriel. "He was ever hugging us, giving america tons of love. Being determination for america erstwhile we needed him."

Gabriel was 45, a 1999 authorities champion successful the precocious leap for Parlier High, and a two-time Valley champ astatine Selma High.

His household is present near to retrieve him arsenic a loving son, brother, and begetter of two. He was deed by a car arsenic helium walked adjacent Herndon and Blackstone avenues connected January 26.

"He was crossing the street," Elisa said. "There were tons of restaurants, so, obviously, possibly helium was going to get immoderate food. And what we cognize is simply a car struck him."

Elisa believes Gabriel was the unfortunate of a drunk driver.

"We privation justice," she said. "That was my small brother. I could inactive person him present if idiosyncratic was not drinking down the wheel."

Detectives accidental Lori Bagdasarian was driving. She walked distant with a citation.

Police accidental she did not spot the antheral successful the roadway but accidental she showed signs of being intoxicated.

Fresno Police present archer Action News determination person been 47 DUI-related collisions truthful acold this year. The District Attorney's Office confirms astatine slightest 8 deaths.

"Those deaths are each preventable, and it's perfectly tragic," Fresno County District 5 Supervisor Nathan Magsig said.

He unveiled respective billboards earlier the holidays.

"That portion and dice message. It's simple," helium said. "It's 2 words, and it's perfectly true."

With the billboards up, deadly accidents fell, according to region officials.

But the signs person travel down. The region does not person backing to proceed the run year-round.

Magsig is present looking for assistance opportunities.

"As you amended the nationalist and punctual them to not portion and thrust and don't velocity and don't thrust portion distracted, that tin prevention lives, and truthful we bash request to beryllium educating the nationalist more," helium said.

Magsig is acrophobic that DUI-related deaths could emergence with the Super Bowl this weekend, and helium is urging radical who person had thing to portion to designate a sober driver.

You tin donate to Gabriel Zarate's household here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/donate-to-gabriel-zarates-funeral-costs

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