Separate GoFundMe pages have been set up for the families of two Santa Maria residents who died in vehicle crashes during the weekend. 

One will assist the family of Alma Teresa Alcorta Del Lazaro, 53, of Santa Maria. 

As of Tuesday, the site “Help the Family of Alma Alcorta” had raised more than $8,480. 

She was a passenger in a truck struck by a wrong-way driver on Highway 101 Sunday morning, and she was pronounced dead at the scene.

“Alma was daughter, mother, sister, friend, and loving provider to her family,” the GoFundMe site says.

“She was always smiling and joking with anybody she crossed paths with. She loved life and was full of happiness. She always showed people the positive side of everything and cared deeply for everyone.”

Her husband, Cecilio L. Camacho, 63, of Santa Maria, was critically injured in the crash and had to be extricated from the wreckage. 

They were on their way to work when their vehicle collided with one traveling the wrong on Highway 101 between Betteravia Road and Santa Maria Way. 

That driver, Kendra Cordova, 34, of Santa Maria, was arrested for suspicion of vehicular manslaughter and drunken driving, the California Highway Patrol said.

Criminal charges had not been filed in Santa Barbara County Superior Court as of Tuesday. 

It’s not unusual for the District Attorney’s Office to file criminal charges weeks or months after a crash, which allows law enforcement officers to conduct their investigation. 

Cordova was no longer listed in Santa Barbara County Jail custody logs as of Tuesday.

Driver Killed in Highway 166 Crash

A second GoFundMe site will help the family of Jesus Mata Garcia, 21, of Santa Maria. 

He died in a three-vehicle crash late Saturday on Highway 166 (West Main Street) west of Hanson Way. 

He is survived by his parents and three younger siblings.

“His friends and family will forever remember him as a strong, confident, joyful & hardworking young man, who loved and cherished everyone around him. Whose smile uplifted those who surrounded him,” the GoFundMe page says.

As of Tuesday, the fundraising site, “In Memory of Jesus: Support for the Garcia Family,” had raised more than $3,400.

Garcia was the driver of a Nissan Kick traveling east when he started to overtake a Nissan Frontier that was ahead of him, according to the California Highway Patrol.

He used the left turn lane to overtake traffic when the vehicle collided into a westbound Dodge Journey, which may have been in the lane waiting to turn, the CHP added.

Witnesses said the Nissan Kick’s driver had been seen earlier crossing double yellow lines and passing vehicles and the CHP believes alcohol may have been a factor in the crash.