Family of teen killed in Newport is fatal for drunkenly touting reforms

Lina PortmanJune 1, 2024

0 2 minutes read

Moments before his 14-year-old daughter was struck and killed by a suspected drunk driver, her father was experiencing one of those feelings of worry that most parents experience out of the blue.

“I would always like her to contact me and stay in touch, and it’s funny how we feel, but around 6:45 p.m. I sent her a message saying I was feeling worried, how are you? Are you OK? And I didn’t get a response until a few hours later,” Dr. Fillmore Smiley told City News Service on Friday.

Her daughter — Rosenda Elizabeth Smiley of Rialto — was struck last Saturday by a car driven by Joseph Alcazar, 30, of Fontana, who has since been charged with second-degree murder. The time of the collision at Balboa Boulevard and Palm Street was around 6:45 p.m.

As he waited for news of what would happen after being alerted to the collision, Smiley said his daughter's Snapchat reply appeared on his phone with cruel irony.

“I thought for a moment she was alive,” Smiley said.

She was about to graduate from eighth grade and go to high school, her father said.

But Smiley, a clinical therapist who helps addicts, said he didn't want his daughter to be just another statistic. He and his family will therefore gather at the scene of the accident on Saturday to extol the merits of reform aimed at impaired drivers.

“So I work with drug addicts and alcoholics on a daily basis,” Smiley said. “Anyone can get a DUI and anyone can get an oops and they'll never do it again, but when you get the second DUI, you're an alcoholic.”

Alcazar has been arrested twice for drunk driving, which is why he faces murder charges rather than manslaughter. The difference between the two is a life sentence versus a fixed amount of time behind bars.

“I’m going to talk a little bit about Rose and also advocate for changes in the law,” Smiley said.

He believes that treating impaired drivers from the start will do a better job of reducing recidivism and fatal drunk driving than a harsh prison sentence.

In cases of a first or second DUI, drivers should be ordered to complete a year of outpatient treatment and be required to attend 12-step meetings, Smiley said.

“I also think there should be a mandatory prison sentence for first-time offenders,” he said. “I think first-time offenders get off easily. They don't take it seriously enough. And forced treatment works.

On the third DUI, “there should be a prison sentence.” If you get to a third party, you’re not going to get it,” Smiley said.

“We want people to know who Rose was and we don’t want her to be a statistic,” Smiley said. “We want people to understand what an incredible, vibrant, fiery, witty, intelligent and beautiful person she was. Every parent thinks their child was special, but Rose was truly special. My girlfriend said to me, “I’ve never met anyone like Rose.” » »

Lina Portman

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