Family celebrates birthday of man killed in crash

Cesar Rivera, 32, hit by alleged drunken driver Saturday afternoon

Family and friends of Cesar Rivera got to together to remember and celebrate what would of been his 33rd birthday.

Feet from his makeshift memorial are signs of the crash that took his life.

"I don't think it's really sunk in. In my head he's just somewhere and he'll be here any minute," said Celina Escarzaga-Rivera, Rivera's wife.

Rivera was killed in a crash on Saturday afternoon on the intersection of Uhr Road and a Thousand Oaks. An alleged drunk driver ran a red light and slammed into the car he was in. The driver was also hurt.

"His profession was helping people with addictions. That was his target audience he had a big passion for helping people who had drinking and driving problems," said Escarzaga-Rivera.

Rivera's wife and daughter say they'll try to move on but they'll never forget the man they nicknamed Mr. Awesome.

"I'm trying to show her that we're going to be sad but we're going to be happy. We aren't always going to cry when we talk about daddy or think of daddy," Escarzaga-Rivera said.

Lacy Lynd Guerrero has been identified by police as the driver who hit the car Rivera was in.

She has been charged with intoxication manslaughter, intoxication assault and failure to stop and render aid.

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