Father Arrested in Crash That Killed Wife and 3-Year-Old Son

By Bay City News Service and Patch Staff

A Milpitas man who drove his car into a tree killing his wife and 3-year-old son in Fremont Tuesday has been arrested on three felony counts, Fremont police reported Saturday.

Gilbert Gil, 34, was arrested in Hayward Friday on two felony counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and one count of felony child endangerment, Fremont police announced Saturday. Gilbert Gil was transferred by ambulance to the Santa Rita County Jail without incident.

Gilbert Gil was driving his wife Joie Gil, 31, and son Angelo Gil, Tuesday around 12:50 p.m. on Paseo Padre Parkway between Chadbourne Drive and Dorne Place, when he lost control of the vehicle, according to police. The car split in half when it careened into a tree.

Gilbert Gil and his child, who was fastened in a child safety seat in the backseat of the car, were ejected from the vehicle, police said.

Angelo Gil was pronounced dead at the scene. Joie Gil was pulled from the vehicle but was pronounced dead Wednesday, according to police.

Gilbert Gil suffered major injuries and underwent surgery Tuesday night.

Gilbert Gil will be arraigned in court on the charges next week.

Police estimate several more weeks of investigation while officers analyze collision data and await the final toxicology test results.

Police say speed unsafe for the conditions is the primary collision factor. Although police continue to investigate, police estimate Gilbert Gil was traveling at about 65 mph.

The day after the horrific crash, tire marks stretching about 100 feet could be seen leading to the tree where a memorial for the victims was placed. A portion of the tree’s bark had been defaced from the accident.

Residents had placed flowers, candles and stuffed animals overnight in memory of 3-year-old Angelo Gill.

Fremont resident Rinah Aguilar said she drove by the scene Tuesday night and got chills. She felt compelled to come back Wednesday and tie flowers around the tree.

“I have kids, too. I felt sad for the family,” Aguilar said. 

Next door to the home where the Gill family’s car crashed, a neighbor who asked to only be identified by his first name recalled seeing the gruesome sight. Half of the car was in the street, the other in the neighbor’s yard.

Kash, who has lived in the neighborhood since 1969, said cars speed by all the time in what is supposed to be a 35 mph zone of one of Fremont’s main thoroughfares.

“It takes me five minutes to back out of the driveway sometimes,” Kash told Patch. 

He estimates that many drivers exceed 60 mph. 

“People speed on this road too much,” Kash said. “We need a better system.” 

Bay City News Service contributed to this report.