Fund set up for family of man who died in Burbank crash on Sunday

A fund has been set up to raise money for the widow and two sons of a 33-year-old Burbank man who was killed in a head-on crash on Sunday.

The man, Roman Ramos Rubio, of Burbank was killed when his sedan was struck at the intersection of Buena Vista Street and Alameda Avenue by an SUV driven by 29-year-old Ivan Valle, also of Burbank, according to police.

Rubio is survived by his wife, Giselle, and two sons -- Ethan, 2, and 9-year-old Ryan, who was diagnosed with mild Autism Spectrum Disorder, according to the fund’s website.

Roman Rubio and his family had hardly been in the county for one year after waiting 22 years for his migration petition to be approved, after which he was able to join his parents and extended family in Los Angeles from the Philippines.

He was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. Meanwhile, Valle on Tuesday pleaded not guilty to vehicular manslaughter in Los Angeles County Superior Court. Police allege he was intoxicated while driving without a valid driver’s license.

Roman Rubio’s death came after he and his family were able to realize their “long held dream” of moving into their first house in Burbank – this after working “12 hours a day, 7 days a week” at a custom automotive wheel manufacturer in Gardena, according to the website.

The Roman Rubio Family Fund was established on the GiveFoward website to help pay for funeral services and to provide “some short term financial assistance” to Roman Rubio’s wife and two boys.

-- Jason Wells, Times Community News

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