Alexia Cina, a 21-year-old former student athlete from Canyon County, is accused of causing the crash that killed a mother of six who was returning home from the hospital after visiting her premature twin babies. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department announced the arrest in a news release.
They allege that Cina, who played college soccer, was driving drunk. She was arrested on allegations of DUI and felony vehicular manslaughter. She’s accused of killing Katie Evans, 37. The death of Evans has horrified and saddened the community, especially as photos circulated of the young mother holding the tiny infants in her arms at the hospital. A fundraising effort for her surviving family members has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars. People have also been moved by the story of how Katie Evans lived her life and by her husband’s inspirational response to the tragedy. He told columnist Jason Wright: “Katie was valedictorian of her class, she missed only one question on the SAT. She could have done anything. Literally anything. But she found balance things she was passionate about, educating herself and raising her kids.”
Here’s what you need to know:
1. Authorities Allege That Cina, a Former Soccer Player, Was Almost Three Times Over the Legal Limit
FacebookAlexia Cina
According to the Sheriff’s release, “Santa Clarita Valley Station traffic investigators responded to the scene and determined alcohol appeared to be a factor in the collision.” Toxicology reports “from the driver, Alexia Cina, age 21, of Canyon Country, revealed she had a blood alcohol content of .21. The legal limit is .08,” the release alleges. On Wednesday, October 18, 2017, “Alexia Cina was arrested for felony vehicular manslaughter and felony driving under the influence, causing injury. She was booked at the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station jail with her bail set at $200,000,” according to the release.
Cina is a former student athlete (see a video above) who was on the 2014 soccer team for San Diego Christian College; the RoundupNews called her “Former Brahmas soccer player” Alexia Cina, saying, “Cina played for the Brahmas in 2015, when the team won conference before being eliminated by Ventura College in the first round of regionals.” She went to Canyon High School, according to a recruiting profile.
2. Cina Is Accused of Crashing Head on Into the Car Carrying the Mother of Six
Katie Evans with her family.
When deputies responded to the scene, they discovered that a horrific, and deadly, head-on collision had occurred. On October 6, 2017, Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff Station deputies “responded to Golden Valley Road, just south of Valley Center Drive regarding a traffic collision. A vehicle traveling south on Golden Valley Road crossed the center median and collided head-on into a car traveling northbound,” the sheriff’s news release says. “A 37-year-old Saugus woman who was in the northbound car was pronounced deceased by Los Angeles County Fire Department personnel who responded to the scene,” the release reports. That woman was later identified as Evans. Cina is being held on $200,000 bail.
The columnist, Wright, described the life that was taken. He wrote of Evans, “Katie Evans lived and dreamt big and in full-color. The 37-year-old mother of six from Santa Clarita, California imagined a planet without hate and hunger. She pictured every single one of us playing a role in making the world better through service, education and unconditional love. Evans, with a brilliant mind, vivid imagination and an uncanny knack for problem-solving, was always an email, post, or a text message away. A natural introvert, she’d made it her purpose to give comfort, offer advice and share everything and anything she could.”
3. Katie Evans Was Visiting Her Almost 8 Week Old Preemies
Katie Evans with her baby twins.
The circumstances of Evans’ death – returning home from visiting fragile newborn twins – has gripped and saddened the community. According to KTLA, Katie Evans “was killed as she was driving home from a hospital visit with her twin preemies, who were not yet 8 weeks old at the time.” A relative told The Signal, “Evans couldn’t go a day without visiting her new twins at the hospital.”
Tragically, she had almost made it home. “Evans was about a mile from her residence when the fatal crash took place,” the television station reported. Evans’ husband, Jacob, told The Signal he was trying to focus on his family, saying, “Obviously, there are consequences when things happen. But I don’t wish any more ill on anyone.” The column by Wright describes in heart-wrenching detail the moment when Jacob Evans told his other children that their mother had been killed. “We sat down and we sang our favorite hymn,” Evans explained to the columnist. “The song is Families Can Be Together Forever. My mother was also killed in a car crash four years ago and the song means so much to my family.” According to Jason Wright. “Evans asked his sons what the song meant about God’s plan and he was gratified and comforted at how well they understood its eternal message and meaning.”
4. A Fundraising Page to Help Evans’ Family Has Raised More Than $300,000
Katie Evans’ husband.
People moved by the tragic death of the young mother have contributed to a YouCaring fund that has now raised more than $300,000 to assist her family, which includes her husband and four other children. The note on the page reads, “37 year old Katie Evans was killed by a drunk driver late Friday, October 6th as she was returning home from visiting her premature twin girls in the hospital. The driver who hit her crossed the median and crashed into her car just a mile from her home. Katie leaves behind her husband Jacob Evans, her children Spencer (12), Travis (11), Nathaniel (9), Gideon (2) and her premie twin girls Hannah and Sarah (not even 8 weeks old!).
Katie couldn’t go a day without visiting her brand-new twin girls in the hospital. She was a devoted mother, sister and wife and will be immensely missed. Jacob is left to care for 6 kids by himself. There will be many childcare costs as well as unforeseen expenses. We know many would like to help but don’t know how to, or are too far away to help in person. If you would like to donate towards childcare and other expenses, you could make Jacob’s life a little easier.” A follow-up note on the page reads, “Initially, Jacob thought he would have to uproot his kids and move them close to family but due to your generosity, he’s now beginning to explore how he can keep the family in Southern California with their friends and neighbors. We do not know how large expenses will be, but are very grateful for your generosity to my brother and his family.”
5. Cina Was Allegedly Found Sitting on the Curb at the Crash Scene
When authorities arrived at the scene they found immediate suspicion that alcohol might be involved through open containers. According to KHTS, “First responders reportedly found Alexia Cina, 21, sitting on the curb near the stretch of Golden Valley Road where the crash took place shortly before midnight on Friday, according to an anonymous source.”
Lt. Rob Hahnlein with the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station told the station “that investigators found open containers of alcoholic beverages in the suspect’s car,” and added, without naming Cina, “It just looks like a person traveling south on Golden Valley accidentally hit the right curb heading into traffic coming northbound, striking oncoming traffic.” According to the radio station, “Cina was reportedly transported to Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital for her injuries.”