Family of Cyclist Murdered by Suspected Drunk Driver Is Handling the Tragedy Expressed as “It Doesn’t Even Feel Real”

TheNevadaGlobeStaff

3 years ago

Categories: 702Times

Family of Cyclist Murdered by Suspected Drunk Driver Is Handling the Tragedy Expressed as “It Doesn’t Even Feel Real”

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (702 Times, NV Globe) – On Nov. 4, mayhem and tragedy occurred along Flamingo Road and Maryland Parkway when a drunk motorist smashed into two bikers and then collided into numerous other cars.

Marco Francisco Benitez, 27, the guy accused of triggering the incident, was detained on various DUI-related offenses.

Antonio Zabala, 36, and his 37-year-old girlfriend, Karina Del Carmen Lopez, were killed in the incident.

Alisia Perez, Zabala’s sister, says about the pain she and her family are through right now.

“It doesn’t even seem real, but it’s just about keeping our family close and staying together and trying to be there for one another during this time,” Perez said.

On November 4, Zabala and Lopez were slain while riding their motorcycles by a suspected drunk motorist. Perez, who is new to the Las Vegas region and originally from Kansas City, described her brother and his girlfriend as fascinating individuals.

“He had just moved to Vegas and was there for about four months in the area for work,” Perez said. “Antonio was a free spirit and had a go-getter attitude. He wasn’t the type of man that said he was going to do something; he would just do it.”

Zabala was on his path to become a master chef while working as an executive sous-cook for the Westin Hotel. According to Perez, the Westin Hotel has been a huge assistance in all of this.

“They were a big support when everything first happened, and I believe the head of HR set us up in a hotel for me and my family to stay,” Perez said.

We reached out to the Westin Hotel for comment but have yet to hear back. The Zabala family has established a GoFundMe page to assist with Antonio’s memorial expenses. Donate by clicking here.

Credits: 8NewsNow