Fund set up to cover family's funeral expenses

"They were very, very loved," said Karen Velasquez, niece of Josefa Osorio Acevedo. "It's left a dent in our family, a hole."

The family, which had moved from El Salvador about six years ago, was a small but tight unit, said Velasquez. Josefa Osorio Acevedo was a single mother who had never been married. She waited to move to the United States until the family could come together.

Amado Osorio Acevedo worked as a driver for Safeway.com to support the family, said Velasquez. Josue Osorio was a freshman at Westmoor High School, which was quite close to where the accident occurred.

"They came here to work and to make a better life. They were on their way, slowly and humbly. Then they were taken from us," said Velasquez.

Denis Pereirade-Macedo, 28, of Sunnyvale, has been charged with three counts of vehicular homicide plus felony driving while intoxicated in the death the family and injury of Amado Acevedo's girlfriend, who was critically injured and remains hospitalized.

Pereirade-Macedo's blood alcohol level was .15 several hours after the March 2 crash and was ultimately pinpointed at .18 so extra allegations based on the level of impairment were also lodged, Assistant District Attorney Al Serrato said previously.

Pereirade-Macedo was leaving the scene of a hit-and-run a block away when he pulled his BMW into oncoming traffic to maneuver around the driver he had rear-ended, accelerated and collided with a red Toyota Tercel pulling away from the curb to make a U-turn on the 100 block of Eastmoor, Serrato said.

The Osorios were on their way to dinner at the time, said Velasquez.

Pereirade-Macedo was not injured and remained at the scene where he was arrested. He is due back in court March 19 to enter a plea.

Pereirade-Macedo remains in custody without bail.

To make a donation to the Osorio family visit www.osoriomemorialfund.com or www.osoriomemorial.com.

heather@smdailyjournal.com

(650) 344-5200 ext. 105