Tragedy struck when a young father lost his life in a motorcycle accident while commuting home from work in the East Bay. The family shares their heartbreaking experience. He is survived by a caring family, including a young son who is 4 years old.
Marcos Amaral, a hardworking individual, dedicated his time to supporting his young son.
The family is seeking justice for the alleged DUI driver.
“He still video chatted me every day or nearly every day, and that’s going to be real hard to get used to,” said his mother, Michelle Amaral.
“You just think you have so much time. I feel like I never thought this would happen,” said Emily Armstrong, the mother of Marcos’s son.
On the early morning of Aug. 10, the family reported that Amaral was out riding his motorcycle.
After finishing his shift as a bartender at the Benihana restaurant in Concord, he was finally able to relax.
He was traveling on Highway 24 near Orinda, east of St. Stephens Exit, heading towards San Francisco where he resided.
Amaral was struck by a black BMW SUV, as reported by the California Highway Patrol. Amaral passed away at the scene, while the driver emerged unharmed.
The BMW driver was arrested by the CHP for driving under the influence.
“He’s ruined his life. He’s ruined our lives, multiple lives,” said Michelle Amaral.
Michelle Amaral was able to recover her son’s gloves from the scene of the crash.
“I wasn’t able to see him before he left because he was involved in a collision with five other cars on the freeway,” she shared.
The family emphasized the importance of not driving under the influence.
“I have my moments of sadness, but mostly, I feel angry,” said Armstrong.
According to family members, Amaral’s main priority was raising his son.
In addition to his role as a trainer at a rehab center, he also had other professional experiences.
He aspired to pursue a career as a physical therapist.
“Anything we ever needed, Marcos was always there,” said Armstrong. “Honestly, I wish I was at the point of forgiveness, but I’m not. It’s so senseless.”
A memorial service for Marcos is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, according to the family’s plans.
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The crash is currently being investigated by the CHP.
Authorities are seeking the assistance of witnesses or individuals with relevant information to come forward.
The family launched an online campaign to assist with their financial obligations.