Relatives mourn young mother who died in a suspected accident under the influence of alcohol in Carlsbad

CARLSBAD, Calif. (KGTV) – A young mother of two is being remembered a week after her death in a hit-and-run crash involving suspected driving under the influence of alcohol.

“She was my world,” said a tearful Yovanna Guillen.

“It’s just so much pain, so much pain,” said Ronaldo Delgado.

From a mother lost in grief to a husband missing his soul mate, family members are remembering 23-year-old Karla Guillen.

Early Tuesday morning, after midnight, she had parked her car near her mother's apartment on Las Palmas Drive after finishing a shift at McDonald's.

According to police, a Volkswagen Jetta crashed into three parked cars and hit Guillen, who had just gotten out of her car. Guillen died at the scene.

According to police, 26-year-old Jose Manuel Zambrano Cruz fled the scene of the accident and was later arrested less than two miles away and charged with several counts, including hit-and-run and intoxicated manslaughter.

“Why would you just walk away from the crime scene? … I don't think this person has a heart,” Delgado said.

“I can't stand it. I feel like I'm dying,” said Yovanna Guillen.

She calls her daughter a light of the world, an opinion that Delgado shares.

“She was smart, beautiful, a good soul and a great mother,” Delgado said.

The couple has two children, a 6-year-old girl and a 4-year-old boy.

“It breaks my heart when he asks, 'Where is Mommy?' … We told them that Mommy is an angel. From now on, she will be our protector,” Delgado said.

Delgado and other family members told me they plan to be present throughout the trial.

“I want justice. That's all I want,” Delgado said.

Cruz was released on bail and is scheduled to be arraigned on Wednesday.

“It's not fair that he's out there. He has to get sick so he doesn't hurt other families,” Yovana Guillen said.

To help with Guillen's children's expenses and other costs, a Gofundme campaign has been set up.

A fundraiser will be held at McDonald's at 1064 N. El Camino Real in Encinitas on September 18th from 5-8 p.m. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Guillen family.