Barbara Taylor Obituary, Death – Loved ones are heartbroken following a suspected DUI crash that resulted in the death of a grandmother and left her granddaughter critically injured in Southern California.
The incident occurred on Wednesday when Barbara Taylor, 83, from Rancho Cucamonga, was driving with her adult granddaughter in the passenger seat. As they approached the stop sign at the intersection of Euclid Avenue and 15th Street in Upland around 4 p.m., they proceeded when it appeared safe. However, before they could clear the intersection, a speeding vehicle collided with them.
“I saw this gray car coming down, it was a blur,” said Robert Velto, a witness to the crash. “The car was going excessively fast.”
Velto exited his vehicle to assist the victims but found that the impact had jammed their car doors. Emergency responders arrived shortly thereafter and had to use a hydraulic rescue tool to extricate the victims. They were both taken to a trauma center, but Barbara Taylor was pronounced dead, while her granddaughter remained in critical condition as of Thursday night.
The driver involved in the crash, 25-year-old Jose Ramirez, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. According to the Upland Police Department, Ramirez displayed signs of intoxication at the scene and was found to be driving with a blood alcohol content twice the legal limit. He and a passenger in his vehicle sustained minor injuries from the accident.
Sgt. Marci Williams of the Upland Police noted that Ramirez did not possess a valid driver’s license, indicating that he should not have been operating a vehicle. Furthermore, it was revealed that he had been arrested for DUI by Ontario Police in July 2024.
“Tragic event last night where someone needlessly lost their lives due to idiotic decision-making, like thinking ‘I can drive with twice the legal limit of alcohol in my blood,’” Upland Police Chief Marcelo Blanco remarked on X. “Please ‘Don’t Drink and Drive,’ it can have life-altering consequences.”
Local residents expressed their concerns to KTLA, stating that speeding has been a persistent problem along Euclid Avenue, with drivers often exceeding safe speeds on the major thoroughfare.
Following the incident, Ramirez was booked at the West Valley Detention Center, facing charges of murder and driving under the influence, resulting in great bodily injury. The San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office is currently reviewing the case to determine if any additional charges should be filed.
In the wake of this tragic event, a makeshift memorial has been established near the crash site, highlighting the profound impact of the loss on the community and the victim’s family.