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Driver Suspected In Placentia Accident That Killed 3 Expected In Court Tuesday

PLACENTIA (CBSLA.com) A Placentia man is expected in court Tuesday to face charges of murder and driving under the influence.

Nicholas Stephen Munoz, 27, was arrested Saturday night on suspicion of drunken driving and murder for allegedly striking and killing a woman and her two daughters in Placentia.

DrunkDriverNicholas Stephen Munoz booking photo

CBS 2's Michelle Gile went to the neighborhood Monday where residents were setting up a makeshift memorial for the victims who have been identified as 35-year-old Patricia Ledesma and her daughters, Stephanie, 8 and Diana, 4.

A car wash is planned this weekend at Pee Wee's Market to help raise money for the victims' family. A GoFundMe account has also been established.

Officers were in the area of the 800 block of West La Jolla Street at around 10:30 p.m. when they heard the sounds of a traffic crash, said Placentia police Sgt. Adam Gloe.

"When they got to the street, the officers saw three people lying unresponsive in the street," Gloe said. "Paramedics were called to render aid, but all three were declared dead at the scene." The three victims were walking home from a child's birthday party in the neighborhood.

Later Sunday, it was reported that Munoz allegedly tried to flee the scene but was held at the location by neighbors.

On Sunday afternoon, CBS2's Greg Mills spoke to stunned family and friends still trying to make sense of the tragedy.

"I know the girls. They are very lovely girls, very beautiful angels," said family friend Raja Hammoud.

Stephanie Ledesma, Diana Ledesma
(credit: CBS)

The girl's grandfather, Isidro Ayala,  spoke in Spanish about losing his granddaughters.

"I'm really sad about my younger granddaughters," he said.

"It's really stressful, it's been terrifying," said cousin Roxanna Acosta.

"Her aunt was crying hysterically, there was profanity being thrown all over the place, because you can imagine the raw emotions and  that's their loved ones [hit], coming from a party, and you've went from a party, to a funeral," said witness Kenneth Craw.

"The first one that caught my eye, that stuck with me, and I couldn't sleep was the little girl in the pink dress just laying on her back," Craw said.

The Placentia Police Traffic Bureau asked anyone with any information regarding the accident to call (714) 993-8157.

Anonymous tips can also be submitted to Orange County Crime Stoppers at (855)TIP-OCCS.

(©2016 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

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