Victim of O.C. Crash Had Passion for Social Justice, Friends Say

A single mother supporting three children, Garthea Clayton always dreamed of becoming an attorney. This fall, she was taking a major step toward making her dream a reality by completing her second year at Western State University of Law.

“She just struggled and used that as a steppingstone to put herself together and motivate herself,” said her mother, Judy Carter. “She saw that there was a bigger world out there for her and that she could have an impact.”

Clayton, 38, was killed Sunday along with another law student, Karina Davidds, 24, of Whittier when a man suspected of driving while drunk slammed his van into their vehicle in Cowan Heights.

It was Sunday evening when Jesus Torres, 19, of Santa Ana allegedly ran a red light on Newport Avenue and broadsided Davidds’ car as she was making a left turn, said California Highway Patrol Officer William Kwon.

Witnesses said they saw Torres speed through at least two red lights before the collision, Kwon said. Torres was charged Tuesday with gross vehicular manslaughter, driving under the influence and driving without a license.

Tests of Torres’ blood-alcohol level had not been released Tuesday.

Family members gathered at Clayton’s Garden Grove apartment to mourn her death but also to celebrate her life.

“I can’t generate the anger. I just feel so sorry,” said Carter, 58, of Las Vegas. “My comfort comes in knowing that she’s with Jesus and that she didn’t suffer.”

Carter said the road to law school was not easy for her daughter. Clayton struggled financially as she raised her daughter Dietra, 18, son Daren, 17, and daughter Daja, 13. Daja has cerebral palsy and epilepsy.

Despite these hardships, she completed a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts from Arizona State University.

“It was the problems that she had securing services for Daja that really inspired her toward law school and toward civil liberties,” Carter said. “She just found herself constantly battling for services for her children as a single mother.”

Family and friends remember Clayton for her desire to help and her passion for social justice.

“She was the type of person that if there was something wrong, she would say, ‘There is a better way to do this,’ ” said Clayton’s law school classmate Jeff Johnson, 44, of Santa Ana.

A memorial service for Clayton will be held at Western law school Friday. The school plans to create a scholarship fund in her honor.