Driver in crash charged with manslaughter – mother holds no ill will

Memorial fund offers community a chance to help with
medical and funeral expenses
by BERT WILLIAMS, News Editor
The family of Anthony Campos is grieving this week, and hoping
that they can help others to benefit from their heartache. They are
also taking solace in the fact that some lives have already been
saved because of Anthony.
Campos, 15, died Tuesday, March 2 after the 1978 Chevy pickup he
was riding in hit a tree at Starr Road and Reiman Lane. The driver,
also 15, was treated at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital on the
Saturday night of the accident and released into police custody. He
has subsequently been charged with evading arrest, felony drunk
driving and two counts of vehicular manslaughter.
Anthony’s mother, Irma Gutierrez, said she has only sympathy for
the driver, whom she identified as Ruben Portillo, and his family.
“I told them I hold no ill will toward them,” she said. “I still
love them. I will support them any way I can.”
According to Gutierrez, Anthony and Ruben were best friends.
“They were inseparable,” she said. “Now Ruben is paying for this by
the death of his best friend and brother.” Later she insisted, “He
made a mistake, but he has suffered enough. I’m rooting for
Ruben.”
On Saturday night, the boys had taken off without permission in
the pickup that belonged to Portillo’s uncle. The joy ride turned
tragic when the truck hit a parked car and then Portillo decided to
flee from the scene. Police were pursuing the pickup at the time of
the crash.
According to Gutierrez, doctors performed two surgeries and
“test after test after test” on Campos in the days following the
accident, but by Tuesday, March 2, it was clear that there was no
hope for his recovery. Campos was pronounced dead at 9:50 a.m.
Gutierrez said that she and her son had recently had a
conversation about organ donation, and he had made it clear that,
if anything ever happened to him, he wanted his organs donated to
those who needed them.
As a result of the conversation, Gutierrez felt free to give
doctors the go-ahead to find recipients for Anthony’s organs. His
heart, kidneys, pancreas and liver were subsequently used in organ
transplants. “I was told that lives were saved,” said Gutierrez.
“It gives me consolation to know that my son’s heart is with
someone else. He was my little man. He still lives in my
heart.”
Gutierrez said that the family has medical insurance, but it is
unclear whether the insurer will cover the injuries resulting from
the accident. The medical bill now stands at many thousands of
dollars.
A fund has been set up to help the family with Anthony’s medical
and funeral expenses. Members of the community may make
contributions to the Anthony Campos Memorial Fund at any branch of
the Exchange Bank. Gutierrez said that many donations have already
come in.
She said that she has especially appreciated the support of the
Campos family and of Anthony’s godfather, Lenny Gregory. “He was
there for Tony since he was a year-and-a-half old,” she said.
“I can’t go door-to-door and thank everyone,” said Gutierrez,
“but I want everyone to know that I thank you for all the love, and
the donations that we have received.”