Fundraiser set for woman killed in vehicle accident

A car wash will be held in Colusa on Sunday to help with burial expenses for a former Colusa County woman killed a week ago in a head-on collision near Meridian.

Lorretta Lynn Deniz, 22, of Yuba City, was pronounced dead at the scene of the Saturday night collision involving a van carrying 10 occupants, all from the Oakland area.

Deniz was described by Cecillia Arias, her cousin, as a wonderful, outgoing girl who loved life and family. Her father, Margarito Deniz resides in Williams. She is also survived by her mother, Catherine Beltran of Sutter, and seven brothers and sisters.

“Lorretta always had a smile,” Arias said. “She just wanted happiness in life. She would give the shirt off her back to anyone that needed her help.”

Deniz graduated from Yuba City High School in 2004 and was recently employed as a cashier at Wal-Mart in Yuba City.

The CHP reported that Deniz was driving east on the Highway 20 at 8:10 p.m. when she collided with a westbound Ford van, driven by Adolfo Jiminez, 23. There was no immediate evidence that either driver had been drinking, the CHP reported, but the crash remains under investigation.

Deniz’s passenger, Marcelino Garcia, 21, also of Yuba City, was treated for minor injuries at Rideout Memorial Hospital.

Jiminez suffered a broken leg and was also taken to Rideout. All of the passengers were sitting on the floor of the 2002 Ford van, which had no rear seats, according to the CHP. Seven suffered major injuries, including 7-month-old Candy Carillo, who suffered a fractured skull and was flown to UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento.

Funeral services for Deniz will be held at 10 a.m. today at Sutter Community Church, 2900 Acacia Ave., Sutter. Burial will follow at Sutter Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Lorretta Deniz Memorial Fund, c/o Sutter Community Church, 2900 Acacia Ave., Sutter, CA.

The car wash is 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at Burger King, 1011 Bridge St., Colusa., to help the family defray the cost of burial.

How you can help

What: Car wash for Lorretta Deniz
Where: Burger King, 1011 Bridge St., Colusa
When: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Contact Susan Meeker at 458-2121 or smeeker@tcnpress.com.