A suspected drunken driver in a Chrysler PT Cruiser crashed into a house Thursday night, killing a woman inside the home in Pomona.
The crash was reported about 9:15 p.m. Thursday in the 1100 block of Colony Drive, near South Hamilton Boulevard, according to the Pomona Police Department. Officers arrived to find a car partially inside the house.
The victim inside was trapped under the vehicle for at least 20 minutes and died at the scene.
Her husband of 32 years identified her as 59-year-old Yolanda Bozonier, a mother and grandmother.
“It hasn’t really sunk in yet,” said Cyril Bozonier Jr. “I’ll sit there and start thinking about my wife and how we were going to do this weekend, and I’ll start breaking down crying.”
Bozonier said his wife was likely getting ready for bed at the time. He had just arrived at work and, as usual, phoned to speak with her as he started his shift, he said. He always called to tell her that he arrived safely, he said.
About five minutes later, his adult daughter called to share the heartbreaking news that his wife had been pinned under a car that crashed through a wall of their house.
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The guy that did this, I forgive that guy, but I'm still angry. He shouldn't have been getting in the car.
Cyril Bozonier Jr., husband of victim
First responders had to remove layers of debris to reach Yolanda, trapped under the car next to the bedroom door.
"Lived every day like it was our last," Bozonier Jr. said. "She always told me, 'I go before you. I won't be able to live without you.'
"She always had a smile on her face."
Her adult daughter was giving Yolanda's granddaughter a bath at the time. they were not injured.
The driver of the PT Cruiser was traveling southbound on Hamilton Boulevard at a high rate of speed when the driver lost control and crashed into the house, police said.
Carmelino Martinezordonez, 33, of Pomona was booked on suspicion of
felony DUI and vehicular manslaughter, and held on $100,000 bail, police said. Jail records did not immediately indicate a court date, and it was not immediately clear whether the suspect has an attorney.
Bozonier Jr. said he finds it in his heart to forgive, but was upset to hear the circumstances surrounding the crash.
"The guy that did this, I forgive that guy, but I'm still angry," he said. "He shouldn't have been getting in the car... This could have been avoidable."
