Classmates of twins Amy and Linda Guiba, 16-year-old sophomores at Dinuba High, wore the school color green Monday to mourn the girls’ deaths in a car wreck west of town.
The collision Saturday night also took the lives of their brother Anthony Guiba, 19, and his girlfriend Gypsie Yanes, 21, of Selma.
Sophomore Cesario Rios, 16, said the girls’ sudden deaths shocked him.
“They were friendly people, they were joyful,” Rios said. “I can’t believe these friends of mine had to die this way.”
The Guibas and Yanes were riding in a 1990 Mercury Grand Marquis that was struck about 9 p.m. Saturday by a pickup driven by a drunk driver who ran a stop sign, the California Highway Patrol said.
The crash took place at Mountain View and Bethel avenues south of Selma.
A 1990 Mazda pickup was heading north on Bethel when it hit the Mercury traveling east on Mountain View, toward Dinuba.
The pickup’s driver, Steven E. Perez, 24, of Reedley, remained in critical condition Monday evening at Community Regional Medical Center.
A passenger in the Mazda, Luis Flores, 33, is in serious condition.
Gilbert Guiba, 24, who was at the wheel of the Mercury, was treated and released from CRMC.
Perez and Flores were wearing seat belts, as were Gilbert Guiba and Anthony Guiba in the Mercury, but the twins and Yanes were not wearing seat belts, the CHP said.
The crash is under investigation and Perez faces arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol, the CHP said.
At Dinuba High, teachers were authorized to excuse any student who wished to speak with a school psychologist, counselor or chaplain.
Students, faculty and staff at the school of 1,750 students said the twins were easy to be around and never caused trouble.
“They always had smiles on their faces,” junior Karina Bermudez said. “We love them so much. It’s a tragedy.”
“They were amazing, just gems,” principal Chris Meyers said. “They epitomized what we teach our kids when the come in as freshmen, to get involved. And they were sweet.”
The twins were active in FFA, the cross country team, clubs and activities, Meyers said.
“They were really nice. They were never mean,” said Danyelle Huerta, 16, a sophomore who knew the girls since middle school. “If you needed a pencil or a piece of paper, they’d give it to you.”
They were also active at Dinuba Mennonite Brethren Church, which they began attending four or five years ago with their parents Rosemary and Frank Miranda of Dinuba.
“It’s an extremely difficult time for the whole community of Dinuba, especially our youth group,” youth pastor Brent Sawatzky said. “They inspired a lot of people.”
via Dinuba mourns suspected DUI crash that killed 4 young people — 3 from one family – Top Stories: Tablet – fresnobee.com.
