$25,000 Given for Kin of Victims in Church Van

SANTA ANA — In four days, donors have contributed more than $25,000 to help the families of victims in a crash involving a church van in which eight people died.

Donations between $3 and $500 from across the United States have been received, according to Bob Klingman, who is managing the fund.

Klingman reported on the fund Sunday night as survivors and friends met at the small nondenominational Iglesia de Dios (Church of God) in Santa Ana. On Sept 20., Octavio Valentin, head of the church, was driving a van loaded with 18 people when it was struck by a pickup truck.

Valentin and his congregation read aloud the 23rd Psalm: “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. . . .”

Valentin’s wife, Ana, told the congregation the victims are now in heaven. “To tell you the truth, I do envy them. I too would like to be with the Lord,” she said.

Valentin said: “Christ died and was born again. We will be doubly blessed in heaven.”

Worshipers at the church shouted, “glory to God” and “hallelujah,” as Valentin spoke to them.

Police are searching for Fernando Hernandez Flores, 23, of Riverside, who they suspect was driving the pickup truck involved in the accident.

Valentin said that as a Christian, he does not blame the driver. “We love him the way we love everybody,” he said outside the church.

Valentin started the Iglesia de Dios seven years ago at his home in Garden Grove. Until last week, the church had 80 members.

The church attracts recent immigrants from Latin America, and some of the donations were received from Central America, Klingman said. Contributions can be mailed to Emergency Funds for Iglesia de Dios c/o the First United Methodist Church, 609 Spurgeon St., Santa Ana, Calif. 92709.

The victims of the crash were Rutilia Oliva, 31; her unborn child; her sons Carlos, 5, and Daniel, 2; Ericka Mendez, 16; Iris Roman, 13; Julio Guzman, 27; and Sonia Castro, 30.