College Collects Money to Aid Families of 3 Women Killed in Hit-Run Accident

East Los Angeles College has established a memorial fund to assist the families of the three Huntington Park women--all students at the college--who were killed by a hit-and-run driver at a crosswalk in Bell.

Meanwhile, the district attorney’s office has charged Carlos Manuel Ruiz de la Ville, 31, with murder, felony hit-and-run and felony grand theft auto stemming from the May 11 incident. He also faces seven misdemeanor hit-and-run violations.

De la Ville, who is being held without bail, will be arraigned before Municipal Court Judge Ana Marie Luna on June 5. Authorities said De la Ville was driving a stolen car when it struck the three students at the intersection of Gage and Woodward avenues.

Flags hung at half staff at the college last week in memory of Margarita (Maggie) del Toro, Maria Guillermina Enriquez, both 18, and Norma A. de la Cruz, 21.

“The three women had such promising futures,” said Ernesto H. Moreno, president of the college, who helped establish the memorial fund. The three women were all honor students, he said.

In addition, the college’s Associated Student Organization has been selling black ribbons for $1 to contribute to the fund, called the ASO Memorial Fund. By the end of last week the college raised $1,400 for the fund. The money collected will be divided among the families. If money continues to come in after burial costs are covered, Moreno said, the college may open a scholarship fund for De la Cruz’s daughter.

The address for the fund: East Los Angeles College, President’s Office, 1301 Avenida Cesar Chavez, Monterey Park, 91754. Information: (213) 265-8662.