By Sheridan McKnight
News Editor
Two fundraising drives are in the works to support the family of Hawthorne residents nine-year-old Payton Castillo and Costa parent 33-year-old Jolene Castillo who died on New Years Day after a car crash on the 22 Freeway in Garden Grove.
The 30-year-old driver, Melvin Branch, was arrested on suspicion of felony drunk driving and vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. Branch was not hurt, but Joleen and Payton were killed. A service in their honor was held at Green Hills in Palos Verdes on Jan. 13. The Castillo family is now working together to begin a fundraiser for the college funds of the two sons.
“You can only imagine what the Castillo family has been going through,” Costa alumnus and family friend Chris Miller said. “The family has recieved lots of love from the community.”
The family’s oldest child, sophomore Christian Castillo, who is a student at Mira Costa, was not in the car during the accident. The Castillo’s youngest child, seven-year-old Logan was the only survivor in the vehicle.
“After being notified by a Costa parent of what occured, we quickly got the baseball coach and boosters involved in supporting the family with meals, hugs, and help with funeral arrangements,” Costa Principal Dr. Ben Dale said.
One of the fundraisers is a GoFundMe page, created to raise money for Joleen and Payton’s funeral and memorial. Another fundraiser is an educational fund to ensure that the two boys have funds to continue with their schooling beyond high school.
“I think Christian is finding Mira Costa to be a bigger family then he imagined,” Miller said. “Once you’re a Costa graduate, you are one for life, and as alumni we step up to help them.”
The driver who caused the accident, Melvin Branch, of Orange County, was intially released after the accident due to insufficient evidence to charge him with driving under the infuence.
“After being released, the person responsible for the accident was thankfully re-arrested,” Miller said. “A reading of his criminal charges will be read in court today.”
The GoFundMe page has raised $59,000 so far toward a $75,000 goal to pay for the memorial and funeral of Jolene and Payton Castillo. The link to donate can be found by searching GoFundMe.com for Jojo and Payton.
“Over 500 members of Christian’s Costa family were there for him and his family at the funeral,” Dale said. “These tragedies are heart-wrenching but serve as a heart-warming reminder about how strong our [Costa] family truly is.”
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