TEMPLE, TX — A memorial was planned for the 33-year-old woman who was killed Saturday night when someone threw a rock off a railroad overpass.
Investigators say it happened just before 9 p.m. Saturday night as Keila Ruby Flores and her family of five, traveled northbound on Interstate 35 between exits 303 and 305.
Police say the person threw a rock from the overpass, to the interstate below, hitting Flores' car, breaking the windshield and hitting Flores, who sat in the front passenger seat.
The memorial for Flores is planned for Saturday, March 16 at 11 a.m. The service will be held at Lakewood Christian Church in Waco with a reception following in the church's fellowship hall.
Temple police said they will charge the suspect with murder when caught.
Flores' boyfriend, Christopher Rodriguez, who was driving the vehicle, said Flores had been asleep before the incident happened.
"I hear this big explosion our of no where. I didn't know what it was until I see there is a big hole in the window. I turn around, look at Keila and she is sitting there unconscious," Rodriguez said. "It happened so fast. I didn't even know what it came through the windshield until I stopped and when I pulled Keila out of the car, that's when I saw the rock stop on her lap."
He said the rock was seven inches in length and five inches thick.
Officers responded to an unknown injury call near the 2600 block of I-35 and Belair Drive where they found Flores and her family.
Before paramedics arrived, Rodriguez said he performed CPR with the help of a good Samaritan who stopped after he flagged his car.
"This gentleman gets out of his car and he helps me and without his help and without her daughter's help, I don't think I could've done what I did. Both of them were helping me keep my calm, they helped me breathe," Rodriguez said.
Once the paramedics arrived, Rodriguez said the man left without him being able to thank him. Rodriguez hopes to meet him and thank him in person.
Paramedics took Flores to Baylor Scott and White Hospital, where she died of her injuries at 10:32 a.m. on Sunday. An autopsy will determine her exact cause of death.
Temple police said this is the first time in Temple that a person has been injured or killed by a rock being thrown. Police still want the public to know that this is a dangerous situation.
Shawana Neely with the Temple Police Department said this an unusual situation in the city.
"This is the first time that we've had an incident such as this when someone has been injured or killed as a result of someone throwing rocks at vehicles," Neely said.
They are asking for information on the incident and said this will not be tolerated.
"It's not OK to hurt an innocent bystander, to take a mother away from her kids, a friend or a partner," Rodriguez said.
Meanwhile, the family continues mourning the loss of their loved one.
"She was always outgoing, always a smile on her face. She was the one if you need something, you could ask her for it, no hesitation," Rodriguez said.
On Monday, The Carlson Law Firm said they were representing Rodriguez. They said they are currently doing everything they can to assist their client.
He and his attorney are asking that the public come forward with any information that they may have.
“There are a lot of issues that come up after the death of a spouse, especially when there’s been a crime,” Carlson Law Firm attorney Dominic Braus said. “The insurance company sometimes uses these kinds of trauma to take advantage of people. Chris sought our assistance to help deal with the insurance company after he was unable to secure a rental, but we recognized that his needs were far greater. We’ve also helped him with coordinating time off from work and with crime victims’ assistance. As more issues come up, we will continue to assist him in whatever ways we can.”
Detectives have no information on a suspect and ask anyone who may have seen anything to call Temple police, or Bell County Crime Stoppers.
