NewsNoticias Tampa Bay (Univision)September 9, 2026Hillsborough County
Family of Three-Year-Old Killed in Salinas Crash Files Civil Lawsuit Against Driver and Store
Photo: Noticias Tampa Bay (Univision)
The family of Fermín Aparicio Maldonado has filed a civil lawsuit in Monterey County Superior Court against the driver who struck and killed the three-year-old child and the market that allegedly sold alcohol to the underage driver. The lawsuit seeks financial accountability from Ricardo Archundia Cruz and One Stop Market following a 2024 collision that also severely injured the victim's father.
Read the full story at Noticias Tampa Bay (Univision)Why It Matters
The civil lawsuit seeks financial and legal accountability from a local business regarding the alleged sale of alcohol to an underage driver involved in a fatal crash, setting a potential precedent for third-party liability in local DUI incidents.
Key Facts
- The family of three-year-old Fermín Aparicio Maldonado filed a civil lawsuit following his death in a 2024 traffic collision in Salinas.
- The collision occurred at East Alisal Street and Woods Street when driver Ricardo Archundia Cruz struck the child and his father while they were crossing the street.
- Driver Ricardo Archundia Cruz was 19 years old at the time of the incident and was driving under the influence of alcohol.
- The criminal case against Cruz concluded with a no contest plea to charges including vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, hit-and-run, and assault with a deadly weapon, resulting in a 17-year state prison sentence.
- The civil lawsuit names One Stop Market, located at Sanborn Road and Acosta Plaza, for allegedly selling alcohol to Cruz when he was under the legal drinking age of 21.
- A case management conference and trial-setting hearing for the civil lawsuit are scheduled for November 10 in Monterey County Superior Court.
- Attorneys estimate the civil trial could take place in the summer or fall of next year.
Who's Mentioned
OrganizationRucka, O’Boyle“Law firm representing the victim's family”locationWoods Street“Location of the collision intersection”PersonRicardo Archundia Cruz“Driver of the vehicle involved in the crash”OrganizationLaw Office of Blanca Zarazúa“Law firm representing the victim's family”locationSanborn Road“Location of One Stop Market”PersonBlanca Zarazúa“Attorney from Law Office of Blanca Zarazúa representing the family”PersonNeil Berman“Attorney from Rucka, O’Boyle law firm representing the family”PersonFermín Aparicio Maldonado“Three-year-old victim who died in the collision”OrganizationOne Stop Market“Establishment accused of selling alcohol to an underage individual”locationAcosta Plaza“Location of One Stop Market”OrganizationMonterey County Superior Court“Court handling the civil lawsuit”locationEast Alisal Street“Location of the collision intersection”