The Contra Costa County coroner’s office has confirmed the identity of an Antioch woman who died Friday night after getting hit with a brick that crashed through a window of the car in which she was a passenger in Concord.
Margarita Erostico Ruiz, 63, was sitting in the front passenger seat of a 2004 Volkswagon Jetta on state Highway 242 near state Highway 4 around 9:30 p.m. when a brick smashed through the car’s window, according to
the California Highway Patrol.
First responders attempted live-saving measures but Erostico Ruiz was pronounced dead at the scene. The car’s 20-year-old male driver and two children in the back seat were unharmed, according to the CHP.
The origin of the brick is still under investigation. People with information can contact the Contra Costa-area CHP office at (925) 646-4980.
I’m still trying to figure exactly where this happened. Reports have said northbound 242 before 4, which would indicate the brick was tossed from the Olivera Overpass, which has sidewalks; another said on 242 at 4, which means it came from an overpass where you would not typically see a pedestrian. I also read they found a few other bricks somewhere. Did someone from a moving vehicle toss the bricks from 4 and one hit the victim’s car? Did they fall from a work truck snd someone doesn’t even know their loose load killed someone? I hope they figure this out.
My guess is that they took the Highway 4 East exit back to Antioch which has the Highway 4 West overpass go over it, which is where the bricks were thrown from. That’s not a pedestrian overpass and has thin shoulders on each side, though someone still could walk up and do it, I have a hard time believing a car would pull over on that overpass to do this, would be extremely dangerous to stop on the thin shoulder there at night, even for a minute.
Prayers for the family, may she Rest In Peace… An absolute terrible tragedy…I hope the responsible suspect is located and arrested
that is just sad regardless of how it happened… could be any of us. RIP
I think a reward should be offered in an effort to find out who threw the brick. This was just such a terrible crime. My hunch is some kids did this, but only one kid threw the brick. Maybe a reward would help solve the crime. The PD should do everything they can to find the suspect, this crime was just awful. Small kids were in the car too! The perp needs to be brought to justice now.
I agree Lars. These kids have a snitches code but enough money might get tot he bottom of it. Then we have to worry about aa juvenile justice system that may not treat them like adults, but they need to be held for manslaughter. This kind of lack of empathy will just escalate. They MUST be held responsible as an adult.
I am beginning to have a half baked idea it wasn’t thrown. I was on the bay bridge one time when a rock was kicked up by a eighteen wheeler and I saw this perfect curve ball hit my windshield all the way. There are bricks as veneer on one of those overpasses. My bet is it fell off. Of course if they find a guilty party I take this all back.
That happened to me too, Ricardoh. It was a thick bolt with a nut on the end so, basically, a dumbell about 3 inches long, lying in the road. The vehicle in front ran over it and the tyre kicked it up in your “perfect curveball”. My windscreen stopped it (just), but the glass layers broke and I was covered in glass particles. I wonder if a truck could do the same to a brick.
I don’t see the “brick veneer fell off the overpass” scenario, though. Around here the overpasses are utilitarian concrete Caltrans structures. I don’t recall seeing anything with brick facing in that area. I’m still thinking it was a deliberate act. Sad that there are people like that.
How tragic. Prayers to her family and friends.
My thoughts go out to the family. Such a tragedy.
As I stated on the original post for this incident, this would not be a kid out that late nor would they throw a brick, they would throw rocks. This was a transient that live behind the apartments and back by Lowes.
I just saw on news, Transient.
This is a tragedy. so sad.
Just a couple of years ago when I still lived in Concord I called the police to report Homeless people doing this in that area! Sorry for the meaningless loss of life. My thoughts go out to the family. Such a tragedy.
It doesn’t matter if it was a kid, transient or alien who did this horrible action. They should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law, hear me, DA Becton. If anything has been learned during this pandemic, it should be enforce the laws and get us back on track to be a decent law abiding society. Maybe this is a wake up call from on high. Yes, you may laugh at me but the world has been out of control for a while now.
Sam, no ones laughing you are so right.