JURUPA VALLEY, CA — The city of Eastvale is mourning the heartbreaking loss of Sabrina De Lara, an 18-year-old recent high school graduate whose life was tragically cut short in a suspected DUI crash early Saturday morning in Jurupa Valley. The two-vehicle collision, which also took the life of Javier Rios, 24, has devastated families and shaken the wider Riverside County community.
According to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, the crash occurred around 2:50 a.m. on July 5, along Limonite Avenue near Beach Street, when a van carrying several young passengers collided with another vehicle. Sabrina and Javier were pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities have arrested Bryan Cruz-Arenas, 23, the driver of the van, on multiple felony charges, including gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and DUI causing injury or death.
A Spirit Full of Life and Love
Sabrina De Lara had just graduated from Eastvale High School and was weeks away from starting college to pursue a nursing degree. Driven by compassion and a deep desire to help others, she envisioned a future spent in hospitals and clinics, tending to those in need.
To her friends and teachers, Sabrina was joy incarnate. Always smiling, always lifting others up—she had a way of turning even ordinary moments into something special.
“She lit up the room without trying,” said Andrea Lopez, a childhood friend. “Her energy made you feel safe, welcomed, and seen. You didn’t have to ask for her support—she just gave it.”
Sabrina volunteered regularly at local youth centers, participated in church outreach events, and led peer mentoring programs at her school. She was a natural nurturer and a quiet leader, known for kindness that went beyond words.
The Night That Shattered So Many
The deadly crash is believed to have been fueled by alcohol. Investigators say the van, which carried multiple passengers including Sabrina, collided at high speed with another vehicle. Preliminary reports indicate several passengers, including Sabrina, were not wearing seatbelts.
Cruz-Arenas was arrested at the scene and booked into Riverside County jail. Authorities are urging witnesses or those with dashcam footage to step forward as the investigation continues.
Eastvale’s Outpouring of Grief
The response to Sabrina’s passing has been immediate and immense. On Saturday night, more than 200 mourners gathered at the Eastvale High School quad for a candlelight vigil. Students, teachers, and neighbors laid flowers, held photos, and shared emotional tributes under the soft glow of candlelight.
“Sabrina was the kind of person who inspired without trying,” said her school counselor, who described her as a quiet force of change. “She showed us what leadership through love looks like.”
A growing number of classmates and community members are calling for increased awareness and education around teen driving safety, especially regarding seatbelt use and sober driving. The tragedy has already inspired conversations about making change in Sabrina’s name.
A Lasting Legacy Through Action
In her memory, several local leaders and educators are proposing the creation of an annual “Sabrina De Lara Youth Safety Week,” aimed at promoting safer driving habits among teens across Riverside County. Plans are also underway to establish the Sabrina De Lara Memorial Scholarship at Eastvale High School, which would support students who embody her values of service, kindness, and leadership.
Memorial Service Information
A public celebration of Sabrina’s life will take place on Sunday, July 13, at 4:00 p.m., on the Eastvale High School campus, in the quad where she once laughed, led, and lifted others. Attendees are encouraged to wear bright colors in honor of Sabrina’s joyful spirit, and to bring handwritten notes, photos, or small keepsakes to be included in a permanent community tribute.
Her family has asked for continued prayers and privacy as they navigate their unimaginable grief. A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help with funeral expenses and to fund future youth outreach efforts.
A Voice That Will Echo On
Sabrina De Lara’s life was a gift to those who knew her—a young woman defined not by her years, but by the depth of her care, the joy she gave so freely, and the promise she carried. Though her journey was tragically cut short, the legacy she leaves behind will ripple forward—through the lives she touched, and the lessons she leaves us to carry.
As one friend put it simply at her vigil:
“She didn’t just change people. She changed the room. And that kind of love doesn’t go away