A roadside vigil was held in Oceanside Wednesday night for Jack Tenhulzen, 69, a man killed in a callous DUI hit-and-run. According to prosecutors, after hitting the victim, the DUI suspect kept driving with Tenhulzen’s body lodged in her car. Her blood-alcohol level was twice the legal limit. NBC 7’s Omari Fleming reports.
A moment of prayer was held during a vigil on Wednesday for a man killed in a bloody hit-and-run in Oceanside earlier this week.
“He needs to be known. He needs to be heard. He needs to be spoken for," said Sarah Plant who organized the vigil.
Esteysi Sanchez Izazaga, 29, who goes by Stacy Sanchez, is charged with Jack Tenhulzen's death.
She is accused of crashing into the 69-year old early Monday morning and then driving for half a mile with his body lodged in the front seat.
The incident, witnessed by a some neighbors in the area, left the community rattled.
Sanchez pleaded not guilty in court on Wednesday to four felonies, including gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. She had a blood alcohol level more than double the legal limit two hours after the crash, prosecutors say.
There’s a hole in the passenger side of Sanchez's windshield where investigators say Tenhulzen went through her window.
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Prosecutors say Sanchez hit him with so much force, it stripped his clothes.
“He died such a horrible death,” said Plant. “I can't imagine! It’s horrible."
A growing memorial of candles and flowers now mark the spot on the 4000 block of Mission Avenue where Tenhulzen was walking before he was hit.
“People like Jack, he didn’t deserve it,” said vigil attendee Carolina Camarena. “He was just walking. It’s just not fair.”
Camarena, like everyone else at the vigil didn't know Tenhulzen but felt compelled to show compassion and keep his memory alive.
"No one is talking about him. They're talking about the girl the most. I just feel he should get the recognition."
Camerena and her family left notes on the candles saying "God Bless you. Sorry for what happened."
Even one of Sanchez's friends, Junior Rivera, was moved to come pay his respects.
"Everything that happened was a tragedy for everybody," Riversa said.
