A grieving son is demanding justice after his mother was killed in a wrong-way crash on Interstate 280 in Woodside last Saturday
Anatole, the victim's eldest son, told NBC Bay Area Thursday that he and his little brother have lost their best friend and the light that guides their path. He hopes the suspect gets charged to the fullest extent.
“It's been very difficult, obviously not having my mom around. Someone whose been a shining light in my life and so many people's lives,” he said.
Eden Palmer, 54, of San Francisco was killed in the wrong-way crash. Anatole, 18, told NBC Bay Area that his mother was driving his little brother, 14, to a soccer game.
Anatole's brother survived the crash but has been in critical condition ever since.
“He's been suffering quite a lot, a lot of injuries, a lot of surgeries going on,” Anatole said.
Anatole said that Eden was the rock of the family. She was a dedicated volunteer and a rock star in the fashion industry.
“The positivity and love that she spread unconditionally, that was her motto and will continue to be spread through those who knew and loved her,” Anatole said.
Constellatia A. Martin, 24, of Campbell was arrested near the scene. Police said that after the crash, Martin took off but was found undressed in a nearby field.
Get a weekly recap of the latest San Francisco Bay Area housing news. Sign up for NBC Bay Area’s Housing Deconstructed newsletter.
Martin was arraigned Thursday as the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office filed vehicular manslaughter charges while being under the influence of drugs.
“That's based on various symptoms that she exhibited: the erratic behavior, the officers looking at her eyes, the statements she was making," San Mateo County DA Steve Wagstaffe said. "She made a large number of bizarre statements."
While justice arrives, Anatole and his family have created a GoFundMe page to help with his little brother’s recovery and help his mother’s dream come true of seeing her sons go to college.
“One of the promises that my mom gave to my brother was that wherever he got in, she'd make sure he can go,” he said.
The San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office said Martin did not enter a plea. Her case was continued until May. In the meantime, she will remain in jail without bail.
