VISTA, Calif. — The man prosecutors say is responsible for killing a 13-year-old from Escondido in a DUI crash over the weekend pleaded not guilty in court.
20-year-old Alexander Tito Oroz wasn’t of legal drinking age when police say he got behind the wheel of a car intoxicated. The crash sent him, his girlfriend and another driver to the hospital. It killed his girlfriend's little brother.
Rodrigo Tapia Junior's family came to Wednesday afternoon’s court arraignment as well as Oroz’s family. Rodrigo’s mom Norma Tapia tells CBS 8 her daughter Jasmine and Oroz had only been dating for two to three months. Rodrigo’s family tells CBS 8 Oroz’s family shares their pain in losing Rodrigo.
Rodrigo's parents, his aunt, grandmother and a few other relatives were visibly hurt while details of the case were read aloud in court. Hearing from prosecutors about Oroz’s lack of remorse was most difficult for them.
Norma, with the support of her sister Christine Lopez, talked to CBS 8 after court.
“I cant imagine how he was feeling when he (Rodrigo) was coming down the hill. He told them to stop. They both told him to stop but he (Oroz) kept pressing the gas pedal. My kids were scared,” Norma sobbed after court.
“Before, I thought he was a sweet guy. He would always open the door for my daughter like a gentleman. Now I know he’s not that guy,” Norma added.
Because 20-year-old Oroz is underage, the judge said in court Oroz’s blood alcohol content at the time of the crash *should* have been zero. His BAC was .097 40 minutes after the crash.
Oroz is now facing felony vehicular manslaughter and other charges.
Prosecutors say Oroz’s speed was anywhere between 91 and 119 miles per hour when he hit a pickup truck. The driver of the pickup truck, Roddy Arevelo is still in the hospital.
Jasmine, Oroz’s girlfriend, is out of the hospital.
“She’s doing good. But she’s just lost. She’s lost right now. She doesn’t know what she wants. She feels like she lost her brother and her boyfriend,” Norma shared.
In court, the prosecuting attorney said Oroz is a threat to the community.
“He showed no regard for public safety when he was speeding through a 40 mph posted zone at 91 to 119 miles per hour.”
Oroz’s attorney argued that he should be released with conditions and supervision.
“He has community ties, he is employed. He’s lived here his whole life. He has no criminal history, priors or active cases,” the defense attorney said.
Norma said this tragedy could have been prevented in so many ways if Oroz had just listened.
“I told him not to drive and he shut me off like he didn’t care," she said as she sobbed. "And now I know he doesn’t care because he showed no remorse that my son is dead. He’s dead.”
The family is planning services to say goodbye to Rodrigo. They say he loved baseball and was a good kid with great grades who was funny, humble and always helped his grandmother.
There will be a fundraiser hosted by Rodrigo’s Little League team on Saturday morning May 4, starting at 8 a.m. at Mountainview Park.
Stay Fresh Beauty and Barber College will be having $5 haircuts May 2-4th with proceeds supporting the family.
WATCH RELATED: Boy, 13, killed in alleged DUI collision in Escondido