Hawaiian Gardens : Funeral Set for Candidate Killed in Hit-Run Accident

A funeral will be held Friday at Rose Hills Memorial Park near Whittier for Valerie Gaxiola, a Hawaiian Gardens City Council candidate who died following a hit-and-run traffic accident Sunday morning.

Gaxiola, 48, was pronounced dead at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center at 2:12 a.m.

The crash, in which Gaxiola’s car was broadsided at a Hawaiian Gardens intersection by a speeding pickup, also seriously injured another council candidate, 43-year-old Mary Corrales. She remains in intensive care at the hospital, with head, abdominal and chest injuries.

The mother of seven children, ranging in age from 16 to 29, Gaxiola was a 21-year resident of Hawaiian Gardens. She served on the city Public Safety Commission and the Law Enforcement Committee, a citizens group that works to improve law enforcement. She had served previously on the Recreation Commission and been active in youth sports and anti-gang efforts.

Gaxiola will be buried at Rose Hills following the 3:45 p.m. service at Memorial Chapel. Viewing is today from 5 to 8:30 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

In addition to her children, Gaxiola is survived by her husband, Anthony, five sisters and three brothers.

In Tuesday’s election, neither Gaxiola nor Corrales won seats on the council. Gaxiola received 102 votes and Corrales 94.

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputies are seeking the owner of the 1974 brown Ford pickup that struck Gaxiola, Sgt. Don Reeves said. The driver fled after the truck struck a house following the crash, which knocked Gaxiola’s car 100 feet down the street.