Mother killed by suspected DUI driver in Concord while on way to work
CONCORD, Calif. - A mother was on her way to work in Clayton when she was killed by a suspected drunk driver this past weekend.
What they're saying
Her heartbroken husband spoke about their loss and their message to others not to drink and drive.
"I miss my wife," said Armando Sanchez.
He is struggling to come to terms with the sudden death of his wife, Eva Rodas.
"We eat together at the same time. We wake up; we go to work together; come back together at the same time; everything together," Sanchez said. He said his life would never be the same.
Rodas was driving from her home in Oakley early Saturday just before 3 a.m. She was on Kirker Pass Road in Concord, just north of Hess Road, when her vehicle was struck by a suspected drunk driver.
What we know
CHP said the driver was going the wrong way when it crashed head-on into Rodas's Toyota 4-runner. Both she and the other driver died at the scene.
Her husband said she was two minutes from her job at the Safeway in Clayton.
"How do people drink and drive? Right now, you can use a lot of apps. Use Lyft, Uber," said Sanchez.
Rodas' coworkers said she was well-loved and described her as being sweet.
Her husband said he uses a tracking app on his phone to make sure his wife gets to work safely.
They both worked at Safeway, but he was off that day. He shared a screenshot of the app when it indicated their SUV had stopped moving that morning.
Sanchez said he knew something was wrong when she didn't respond to his messages. He rushed to the scene to find their vehicle had turned into a mangled pile of metal.
Rodas's father, German Rodriguez, said the loss of his daughter is unbearable and that his heart is broken now.
SEE ALSO: Relative says 3 family members killed in San Leandro house fire
Sanchez said he and his wife saved their money and bought their dream home in Oakley five years ago. He said they had a happy marriage for more than 20 years.
They were raising their 17-year-old son and an 11-year-old daughter.
He's worried about how to make mortgage payments on a single salary and raising their two children without his wife.
"It was a beautiful life for me. She was the best. She was everything for me," said Sanchez.
In their home, a single candle was lit in her honor.
Her husband has started an online fundraiser to help pay for funeral expenses. The GoFundMe page can be found here.
Funeral services for the 40-year-old Rodas are scheduled for April 3.
Amber Lee is a reporter with KTVU. Email Amber at Amber.Lee@Fox.com or text/leave message at 510-599-3922. Follow her on Facebook @AmberKTVU, Instagram @AmberKTVU or Twitter @AmberKTVU.
The Source
Interviews with relatives of the victim
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
17 minutes ago
- Yahoo
6-year-old boy dies tragically in rare balloon suffocation accident, coroner says
**Related Video Above: What happens when you call 911? MOUNT CARMEL, Ill. (WJW) — A 6-year-old boy died last month in what the the Wabash County coroner has concluded was a 'tragic accidental death' involving a balloon. First responders were reportedly called to a home in Mount Carmel, Illinois, on May 29 where the boy, identified by family as Gunner Hyatt, was pronounced dead. Volunteers build playset for Akron boy with cancer Wednesday, the coroner's office released its initial findings for how Hyatt died, with a toxicology report still pending. 'Preliminary findings indicate that the cause of death is consistent with suffocation due to a Mylar-helium filled balloon,' the office said in the report. Wabash County Coroner Shaun Keepes said he wanted to make the public aware of the danger posed by large Mylar balloons, which are often the same size as children. 'While often seen as harmless decorations, these balloons can pose serious risks — particularly to young children — including the rare but devastating possibility of suffocation and/or helium toxicity,' the office said. Couple allegedly bought more Narcan instead of calling 911 in toddler's suspected overdose death: Docs The boy had just finished Kindergarten at Mount Carmel Elementary School, according to his obituary. He leaves behind his parents, two siblings and everyone else who loved him. A GoFundMe has been set up for Hyatt's family, who described him as 'the craziest, most loving little boy.' An investigation is ongoing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Indianapolis Star
25 minutes ago
- Indianapolis Star
'She was a firecracker and sweetheart,' Family waits for answers after couple found dead
"Undetermined death investigation" is what police labeled the report after Christianna Mendez-Heitzman and Robert Simmons were found dead in the Courts Apartments complex. Simmons, 39, and Mendez-Heitzman, 22, were a couple who lived at the home with her 3-year-old daughter. Mendez-Heitzman's brother, who lived with the couple, found them when he returned to the apartment. His niece, Adriana, was asleep, and he took her out of the apartment and called 911. At 9:10 a.m. on May 31, 2025, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police responded to that 911 call from the 4400 block of Linwood Court. The couple was pronounced dead at the scene. The couple's loved ones told IndyStar they have suspicions of what happened, but are waiting on autopsy results from the Marion County Coroner's Office and confirmed information from detectives. Kerri Cunningham, who has been a longtime friend of the family, created a GoFundMe to help raise money for Mendez-Heitzman's funeral costs. She was at the apartment complex for hours after learning the news about the deaths and said neighbors shared their happy, albeit brief, moments with Mendez-Heitzman. She contacted Simmons' family to let them know what happened. "My heart is breaking for everyone involved," Cunningham said. IndyStar located Simmons' family, who said they were also at the scene of the death investigation, but they declined to comment. Cunningham said Mendez-Heitzman was focused on improving her life and worked hard to get her apartment and car. Mendez-Heitzman was a genuine soul who would help babysit Cunningham's young children. "I spoke to her the day before she died, and nothing seemed out of the ordinary or wrong," Cunningham said. Mendez-Heitzman's loved ones are remembering her as a hilarious character who used to make them laugh no matter what was going on in life. Angela Heitzman said her niece was outgoing, energetic, made friends easily and had the best facial expressions. "One 4th of July, she and her brother, Jose, came to watch fireworks," Angela Heitzman said. "We had glow sticks and sparklers. She was so dramatic and silly." Online, teachers, former classmates and friends are sharing their memories of Mendez-Heitzman with many saying she was passionate about sports and fun to be around. Her mother, Tammy Heitzman, told IndyStar they texted often and said the young mom was always highlighting her skills in the kitchen or asking for advice. "She was showing off what she made to feed her daughter and brother," her mother said, describing the last time they spoke. "She was very passionate about the people in her circle, especially Adriana and (her brother)." Her sister, Stephanie Heitzman, said she looked up to Mendez-Heitzman the most growing up, because she admired how she was her own person. "Her personality was one of a kind. She was a firecracker and a sweetheart all in one," said Stephanie Heitzman. This article will update.
.png&w=3840&q=100)
Miami Herald
43 minutes ago
- Miami Herald
Kayaker's body believed to have been found after vanishing at sea, WA cops say
A missing kayaker's body is believed to have been found in Washington weeks after he vanished at sea, deputies and news outlets reported. A body was discovered June 1 off Dungeness, KIRO reported from the Clallam County Sheriff's Office. Authorities said they believe they found Ty Coone, but they are waiting on dental comparisons before it's officially confirmed, the news outlet reported. Coone called 911 at about 3 p.m. May 13 to report himself drowning, McClatchy News reported. Deputies said they tracked his phone's GPS to the Strait of Juan de Fuca, north of Cline Spit County Park, where it's believed he had been fishing, deputies said. Rescuers, including the U.S. Coast Guard, used a thermal imaging drone to search for him, but only his kayak, life vest and paddle were found, deputies said. The search was called off the next day at about 10 a.m., deputies said. After his disappearance, Coone's family and friends held a memorial for him. They are also making a custom bench to put near the water where he went out on his kayak. 'Ty was one of a kind — full of life, laughter and love. From dirtbike tracks to bonfire nights, he brought people together and made every moment unforgettable,' his friend Bryson Morris said in a GoFundMe post. 'The way you smiled on your worst days made me stronger. I will always love coming home from work and seeing you in my driveway, ready to hang out. Thank you so much for matching my energy and being my best friend,' Elandon Washburn said in a Facebook post about Coone. The Strait of Juan de Fuca separates Washington from Canada, and it's part of the Salish Sea.
