San Bernardino community mourns 21-year-old woman killed in suspected drunk driving crash

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (KABC) — A community came together to mourn the death of a 21-year-old woman killed in an alleged drunk driving crash in San Bernardino.

Leila Strawder was killed in a single-vehicle crash Saturday evening. Loved ones remembered the victim Tuesday evening at a vigil held at East 30th Street and Broadmoor Boulevard.

Investigators say Leila was ejected from an SUV while riding shotgun with a driver under the influence. Investigators have since arrested and charged her friend, Shaylee Williams, with drunk driving and manslaughter.

The accident devastated Leila's mother.

“Don't drive drunk. Don't let anyone drive drunk. Don't let your kids or your friends get in a car with a drunk driver,” said an emotional Lisa Strawder. “They're not in control, and no one is in control – and life is just over. And you can't take it back.”

Lisa says her daughter was heading home from an event when her best friend lost control and crashed near the 210 Freeway.

Witnesses rushed to the scene, including Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, who just happened to be in the area to help Leila. The sheriff performed CPR until paramedics arrived.

Investigators say Leila was trapped underneath. She was rushed to hospital where she died.

“I just want to thank them for their efforts. I'm glad they responded so quickly and didn't hesitate,” Lisa told Eyewitness News.

Leila's friends and family remember her as a creative soul with a love of cosmetology and the color pink.

“My daughter was perfect,” Lisa said. “Everything she did was perfect.”

“I feel dead inside. I feel empty inside,” the heartbroken mother added.

“It's just a lot of things that could have been avoided and shouldn't have happened, and it cost my daughter her life.”

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the victim's family cover funeral costs.