SALT LAKE CITY — The driver of a pickup truck who Utah police say caused a vehicle crash last weekend that killed a newlywed bride who was still in her purple wedding dress has been arrested, a TV station reported.
The bride, Angelica Jimenez Dhondup, 26, was on her way to a party hours after her wedding in car driven by a cousin when the pickup truck crashed into it head-on early Saturday morning, KSL-TV reported, citing the Utah Department of Public Safety.
“She can’t even go to her honeymoon. She can’t even come home to her kids,” Tayler Craft, Dhondup’s best friend, told KSL-TV. “To think about what he did to somebody on their wedding night, when she just got married five hours ago.”
The pickup driver, Manaure Gonzalez-Rea, 36, stole another vehicle at the crash scene but was stopped by a trooper a few miles away, according to Utah Highway Patrol.
Purple balloons for a forever bride: Family members gather to mourn the death of 26yo Angelica “Jelly” Dhondup, the day after her wedding. @UTHighwayPatrol troopers say Dhondup was killed by a drunk wrong-way driver. Her cousins tell me she died in her wedding dress ???? . @KSL5TV pic.twitter.com/9mHAK8N5dY
— Garna Mejia KSL (@GarnaMejiaKSL) August 8, 2021
He was arrested and is accused of automobile homicide, failure to remain at an accident involving death and driving under the influence.
The arresting officer said Gonzalez-Rea’s breath smelled like alcohol and that he admitted to drinking three beers before the crash, according to arrest documents.
STORY: Angelica "Jelly" Dhondup was killed by an alleged drunk driver hours after her dream wedding with her high school sweetheart last night
— Jordan Burrows (@jordan_burrows) August 8, 2021
Her vigil was a celebration of life with balloons, prayers, booze & memories, just how family says she would have wanted it@abc4utah pic.twitter.com/uvj5cCPtfT
Gonzalez-Rea was being held in Salt Lake County Jail without bail. It was unclear if he had an attorney who could speak on his behalf.
Family members said Dhondup’s 20-year-old cousin who was driving the car she was in was released from a hospital Saturday afternoon.
