Authorities have identified both men killed in a head-on crash last week on Seventh Street, and a fundraiser has raised thousands of dollars for the family of the man struck by the wrong-way driver.
Salvador Medina Jr., 35, of Long Beach, was driving a red Honda Accord eastbound on Seventh Street around 6:20 a.m. Wednesday when his car was hit head-on by a speeding Honda Civic sedan that crossed over into oncoming traffic near Terraine Avenue, according to Long Beach police.
Both drivers were pronounced dead at the scene. Elmer Ramirez Sosa, 20, was behind the wheel of the Honda Civic, said LBPD spokesperson Eric Stachura.
The next day, memorials including candles, flowers and crosses were set up along the sidewalk for both drivers.
Medina was an avid Los Angeles Football Club fan who “earned everything with sweat, heart and hustle,” his family wrote on a fundraiser set up to support Medina’s wife and two daughters.
By Tuesday afternoon, the fundraiser had gained $25,780, surpassing its goal of $25,000.
According to the fundraiser, Medina was also known as “Yeye,” “Sal” or “Jay” by friends and family.
“Yeye was the kind of person you only meet once in a lifetime, if you’re lucky,” his family wrote.
Medina leaves behind two daughters, aged 15 and 8, along with his wife, Brenda, according to the fundraiser.
“This pain will never fully go away, but neither will the love we have for him,” Medina’s family wrote.