Community Mourns Beloved Crossing Guard Killed In Monterey Park
MONTEREY PARK (CBSLA.com) — The coroner Wednesday identified the crossing guard killed by a vehicle in front of a Monterey Park fire station.
Abel Flores-Castellanos, 76, was struck around 3:30 p.m.Tuesday while sitting in a folding chair near a wall at the intersection of Garfield and Elmgate avenues, according to the Monterey Park Police Department.
"Everyone knows him; he waves to everyone who drives and walks through this neighborhood," family friend Anthony Zuniga said.
Investigators say a 19-year-old motorist lost control of the car, veered off the road and into the wall where the Flores-Castellanos was sitting after experiencing some confusion with another driver in the intersection.
"I heard the news that a cross guard was fatally injured, and I knew it was my dad," daughter Lorraine Campana said.
It's unclear if speed was a factor, and police were trying to determine if the driver had a valid license. No arrests have been made.
The driver's mother, a 53-year-old woman, was also in the vehicle at the time of the accident. She suffered unknown injuries and was taken to a hospital.
Flores-Castellanos worked for Macy Intermediate School and spent years helping students safely cross the intersection where he lost his life.
"If a kid was in the way he would have saved those kids ... just not himself," Campana said.
Hours after the accident, a makeshift memorial was set up at the crash site. A note was left that read: "Thank you! You kept me safe when I was a kid. Thank you on behalf of all of us kids."
Neighbors said Flores-Castellanos was friendly and well-liked in the community, adding how strange it will be not seeing his smiling face anymore.
"He was very nice, very polite, helping the students crossing the street in the mornings," Elga Kunkle said.
"Abel was a fixture at this corner for the past 10 years and was highly regarded and respected by those who knew him. He was especially close to members of the Monterey Park Fire Department, who would exchange stories and coffee with him on a daily basis," City Manager Paul Talbot said.
Castellanos lived in Monterey Park for over 50 years with his wife Delores, who passed away in April of 2014. Castellanos is survived by his daughter, two sons, grandchildren, in-laws and numerous friends.
Flags at all municipal buildings will be flown at half-staff in his honor, the city said.
Monterey Park police plans to have extra patrols Wednesday at the intersection and throughout the community to discuss road safety.
