Livermore family homeless after alleged drunk driver crashed into home

LIVERMORE, Calif. (KGO) -- A family already reeling after a DUI driver killed two relatives is now homeless from the same incident. The Morales family in Livermore cannot live in their apartment until repairs can be made. And finding temporary housing is a day-by-day ordeal.

Still in mourning, Juan Morales finds his Ford expedition the only place to call home. His wife and three children are homeless after an alleged drunk driver smashed into their apartment. It will be possibly two months before structural and asbestos work will be completed. "The police they gave me a couple of days in the hotel, so the Red Cross, they paid me yesterday one more night too," Morales said.

The turmoil means he hasn't been back to work as a cook. Leisure Sports of Pleasanton has provided enough support for a hotel room for two weeks. After that, it could be back living in the truck.

Last Saturday, he was hosting a family gathering when a Corvette driven by Livermore resident Brian Jones, 35, suddenly jumped the curb and crashed into Esperanza Morales, 46, and her 14-month-old daughter Juli Morales in the 900 block of Murrieta Boulevard just before 6:50 p.m. Saturday.

Police say the suspect attended the Livermore Wine Country Festival before the crash, which is about a half mile away. According to authorities, Jones had a 0.14 percent blood content, which is more than the legal limit.

The accident is under investigation as a possible DUI.

The family isn't sure whether they can continue to live there with such tragic memories. "I don't know. So this I need to see, I talk to my wife, so if she want to come after it's ready go back or I need to look at another place. I don't know yet right now," Morales said.

Flowers, candles and donations have been pouring in. "It's very encouraging to see people who we have no idea who they are, they have no idea who we are and they're showing support. We have people who were donating money from all over the state," Oscar Martinez said.

Neighbor James Walden has a shattered window from last Saturday's crash. "The piece of the brake rotor exploded like in four pieces and just the impact was unbelievable how fast that guy was going," James Walden said.

The Livermore community is having a picnic for the Morales family in Carnegie Park Saturday afternoon to boost their morale.

A GoFundMe account has been launched to help the family. Click here if you'd like to help.

Bay City News contributed to this story.