California siblings hit and killed by man fleeing cops, driver charged with murder: report

A California brother and sister were driving on the expressway when their vehicle was broadsided by another vehicle, killing them both, police said.

Now, San Jose police have stated the driver was fleeing a sheriff’s deputy when he caused the deadly crash. He now faces a murder charge. 

Precious Nievas, 25, and Philip Nievas, 21, were driving on the expressway on April 26 when they were broadsided and the speed of the other vehicle was enough to send their car careening into a sound wall of the expressway, according to authorities.

Both the brother and the sister died in the crash, according to medical personnel.

Investigators determined a Santa Clara County Sheriff’s deputy just turned on his patrol vehicle’s flashing lights to conduct a traffic stop on 18-year-old Roberto Joseph Garcia.

The deputy said he saw Garcia make several lane changes and a U-turn without signaling.

The Mercury News reported after the lights of the patrol vehicle were on, but before the deputy could activate the siren, Garcia sped away, ran a red light and crashed into the Nievas’ vehicle. 

Garcia was placed in custody, though he remains in the hospital with serious injuries, authorities said.

According to police, Garcia was charged with two counts of murder, two felony counts of eluding a police officer, two felony counts related to having a concealed loaded gun in the car and a misdemeanor count of illegally possessing cannabis for sale.

Garcia was also charged by prosecutors with a DUI for an unrelated arrest on April 7, where they claim he recklessly drove on the highway while under the influence of marijuana, police said. 

A GoFundMe page has been created to help support the Nievas family, which states that the siblings were “very kind and down to earth.”

It says that Precious had “a sweet smile that many people will not forget” and she raised her younger siblings after their mother died young.

The GoFundMe page also said that Philip loved playing video games and was “a funny and sarcastic person with a very soft heart.”