Family in Mourning After Expecting Couple Dies in Tragic Pursuit Crash
Memorial Service Held for Couple Killed in Pomona Car Crash
Friends and family gathered Thursday to pay tribute to Jennifer Loera-Zarco, 25, and her boyfriend, 26-year-old Marc Trejo Saldivar, whose lives were tragically cut short in a car accident following a police pursuit in Pomona. The couple was eagerly awaiting the arrival of their baby boy, due on April 20.
The loss has left the families in a state of disbelief. "Surreal. Like it doesn’t feel like. I feel like I’m dreaming," shared Jennifer’s sister, Amber Torres. "It’s a bad dream. I’m gonna wake up and she’s gonna be here."
Jennifer, the youngest of four sisters, was remembered fondly for her loving nature and vibrant personality. "She was smart, intelligent; if you let her tell it, she was the prettiest of all the sisters," recalled her sister Andrea Solorio. Described as a devoted family member, she was noted as the "best aunt, daughter, sister."
Just weeks before the accident, the family celebrated Jennifer’s 25th birthday and held a baby shower in anticipation of the baby’s arrival. "We just celebrated her birthday on the 27th, and two weeks before that we threw her a baby shower," Torres recounted. "So all we were doing was taking her shopping for last-minute things she didn’t get at the shower."
According to the Pomona Police Department, officers responded to a domestic violence call shortly after 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday near East 10th and South Elm Street. During this interaction, 31-year-old Marshall Judson returned home in a truck, intentionally collided with a parked patrol vehicle, and then fled the scene, instigating a two-mile chase.
The pursuit ended when Judson crashed into another vehicle at Garey Avenue and County Road. Marc Trejo Saldivar was driving the car that was struck, with Jennifer in the passenger seat. Tragically, both were pronounced dead at the scene.
Family members revealed that the couple had been looking forward to a bright future together. Torres noted that they were in the process of remodeling an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) at Marc’s parents’ home in Santa Ana, where they planned to live after the baby was born.
Marc’s father, Tony Trejo, spoke about the heartbreak of their loss. "It’s unfair and it’s just heartbreaking," Trejo said. "It’s heartbreaking that the little one didn’t get to take his first breath. He was five days from it. We didn’t have a name."
Trejo urged people to cherish their loved ones. "Tell your loved ones you love them, kiss them, even if they’re going across the street," he advised.
"We hope that they give him the maximum penalty and we can get justice for my little sister, Marc, and the baby," Solorio expressed.
In response to this tragedy, the family is currently raising funds online for the burial of Jennifer, Marc, and their unborn son. "Not only two lives were lost last night; it was three," Torres emphasized. "The baby is a person and was its own being. He was almost here. He was only a couple of weeks from being a part of this family."
Authorities report that Marshall Judson is facing several charges, including driving under the influence, vehicular manslaughter, assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer, driving without a valid license, and felony evasion.
