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LOS ANGELES (CNS ) - Southern California Families for Safe Streets will hold a Rainbow Halo ceremony today to honor a 32-year-old woman who was killed by a 17-year-old boy behind the wheel of a Lamborghini SUV on Feb. 17 in West L.A.
Monique Munoz died at the scene of the crash at 10730 Olympic Blvd., near Overland Avenue. The teen was driving at 106 mph at the time of the impact, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office. The teenager, who confessed to vehicular manslaughter, was placed on house arrest pending his next court appearance in Inglewood on June 30, when a disposition date is scheduled to be set.
Southern California Families for Safe Streets is a local chapter of a national advocacy organization that uses grief to bring awareness about crashes and bring about policy change.
``These are preventable crashes -- not 'accidents' -- and the problems that cause these crashes have proven solutions,'' the organization states on its website. The local chapter notes that someone is killed in a car crash every 36 hours in Los Angeles.
Councilman Paul Koretz and Los Angeles Department of Transportation General Manager Seleta Reynolds, along with friends and family of Munoz, will join Southern California Families for Safe Streets at the Rainbow Halo ceremony at the intersection of Olympic Boulevard and Overland Avenue at 2:30 p.m. A Rainbow Halo disc, which will cast a rainbow glow, will be installed at the location of the crash.
``I continue to join the community in mourning the shocking and senseless death of Monique Munoz, whose life was abruptly taken while driving home from work, a victim of a horrible car accident in my District. By all accounts she was a vibrant young soul who was the joy of all who were around her,'' Koretz said in a statement to City News Service ahead of the ceremony.
``May this HALO serve as hallowed ground to both mourn her life that was cut way too short and also serve to remind drivers that there are very real consequences for street racing and careless driving. I will continue to stand with Monique's family and friends, because justice for Monique must prevail and be our priority. Monique is now an angel in the City of Angels, watching over her family and friends and will continue to be remembered as a vibrant young woman who was the joy of all who knew her and were around her. She has touched us all. May she rest in peace."