Man Fatally Struck In Walnut Creek Was Family's 'Provider, Pillar'

WALNUT CREEK, CA — A maintenance worker who died after he was struck by a car Monday in Walnut Creek was his "family's provider and pillar," according to a family member who identified him in an online memorial campaign.

The victim's niece, Tania Olaez of Antioch, organized the memorial fund for Cornelio Tovar, who leaves behind a wife and two children, 12 and 16.

"My uncle was his family’s provider and pillar," Olaez wrote. "We are grateful in advance for any donations, that will help and allow his family to focus on healing and grieving such a tragic loss."

The crash that claimed Tovar's life was reported just after 1:20 p.m. Monday.

According to Walnut Creek police, a driver's car drifted to the right, hopped the curb, and struck a person (later identified as Tovar) who was doing maintenance work on Ygnacio Valley Road east of the intersection at Lennon Lane.

Tovar was conscious but suffering from significant injuries when officers arrived. Emergency medical personnel rushed him to a hospital where he later died, police said.

The cause of the crash remained under investigation. The day of, police said the driver of the car remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators.

"We are extremely heartbroken to announce the sudden and unexpected loss of my uncle Cornelio Tovar," Olaez wrote on GoFundMe. "We have so many mixed emotions due to such an unfortunate accident."

As of Thursday morning, $2,270 in donations were made toward Cornelio Tovar's Memorial fund. To view the verified GoFundMe campaign, which has a goal of $5,000, go to: https://gf.me/v/c/m9q9/cornelio-tovars-memorial.