[dropcap size=big]O[/dropcap]ntario's street vendor community gathered over the weekend to raise funds for two fruit vendors who were struck last Monday by a woman suspected of driving under the influence.
According to Ontario PD, at approximately 11:13 A.M. On July 5, the two vendors, Ariel Tucubal, 20, and his cousin Hector Rabinal, 32, were crossing the street on Riverside Drive when they were hit by a woman identified as 43-year-old Jessica Dewet. The youngest Ariel was pronounced dead at the scene, while Hector, who was in critical condition, was rushed to a local hospital.
Vendors like Jose Luis Ramirez, who worked alongside the two fruit vendors, said he was getting the cousin’s lunch when he learned about the crash.
“I remember I was calling them to ask them what they wanted from the restaurant, but they weren’t answering,” Ramirez said. “That’s when I got a call from the workers from across the street who told me something happened; they said the fruit cart was on the street.”
When Ramirez arrived, both vendors had already been taken away, the fruit from Ariel’s cart was all over the street. “I still can’t believe it,” he said.