Vigil held for pregnant Las Vegas woman killed in crash
Jairae Cruz, 9, center, attends a candlelight vigil for his mother Monique Leiwalo in Las Vegas on Friday, March 30, 2018, with his family members U'ilani Yette, 29, second from right, and Selena Viernes, 18, right. Leiwalo, who was eight months pregnant, was killed in a central Las Vegas Valley crash Monday morning. Andrea Cornejo Las Vegas Review-Journal @dreacornejo
Terri Cruz embraces Lynette Simerly during a candlelight vigil for her daughter Monique Leiwalo, who was eight months pregnant and killed in a car crash by a drunk driver, on Rainbow Boulevard in Las Vegas on Friday, March 30, 2018. Andrea Cornejo Las Vegas Review-Journal @dreacornejo
From left, Dayne Viernes, Jasmine Leiwalo, Ona Kekoanui, and Layne Viernes console each other during a candlelight vigil for Monique Leiwalo, who was eight months pregnant and killed in a car crash by a drunk driver, on Rainbow Boulevard in Las Vegas on Friday, March 30, 2018. Andrea Cornejo Las Vegas Review-Journal @dreacornejo
Joshua Cruz, 38, attends a candlelight vigil for Monique Leiwalo, who was eight months pregnant and killed in a car crash by a drunk driver, on Rainbow Boulevard in Las Vegas on Friday, March 30, 2018. Andrea Cornejo Las Vegas Review-Journal @dreacornejo
Selena Viernes, 18, and Lynette Simerly, 41, embrace each other during a candlelight vigil for Monique Leiwalo, who was eight months pregnant and killed in a car crash by a drunk driver, on Rainbow Boulevard in Las Vegas on Friday, March 30, 2018. Andrea Cornejo Las Vegas Review-Journal @dreacornejo
Jairae Cruz, 9, is consoled by family members during his mother's candlelight vigil on Rainbow Boulevard in Las Vegas on Friday, March 30, 2018. Monique Leiwalo, who was eight months pregnant, was killed in a car crash by a drunk driver. Andrea Cornejo Las Vegas Review-Journal @dreacornejo
Sam Viernes, 23, and Lynette Simerly, 41, embrace each other during a candlelight vigil for Monique Leiwalo, who was eight months pregnant and killed in a car crash by a drunk driver, on Rainbow Boulevard in Las Vegas on Friday, March 30, 2018. Andrea Cornejo Las Vegas Review-Journal @dreacornejo
Friends and family attend a candlelight vigil for Monique Leiwalo, who was eight months pregnant and killed in a car crash by a drunk driver, on Rainbow Boulevard in Las Vegas on Friday, March 30, 2018. Andrea Cornejo Las Vegas Review-Journal @dreacornejo
Friends and family attend a candlelight vigil for Monique Leiwalo, who was eight months pregnant and killed in a car crash by a drunk driver, on Rainbow Boulevard in Las Vegas on Friday, March 30, 2018. Andrea Cornejo Las Vegas Review-Journal @dreacornejo
Terri Cruz talks about her daughter Monique Leiwalo, who was eight months pregnant and killed in a car crash by a drunk driver, during a candlelight vigil on Rainbow Boulevard in Las Vegas on Friday, March 30, 2018. Andrea Cornejo Las Vegas Review-Journal @dreacornejo
A makeshift memorial is left for Monique Leiwalo, who was eight months pregnant and killed in a car crash by a drunk driver, on Rainbow Boulevard in Las Vegas on Friday, March 30, 2018. Andrea Cornejo Las Vegas Review-Journal @dreacornejo
Friends and family attend a candlelight vigil for Monique Leiwalo, who was eight months pregnant and killed in a car crash by a drunk driver, on Rainbow Boulevard in Las Vegas on Friday, March 30, 2018. Andrea Cornejo Las Vegas Review-Journal @dreacornejo
Friends and family attend a candlelight vigil for Monique Leiwalo, who was eight months pregnant and killed in a car crash by a drunk driver, on Rainbow Boulevard in Las Vegas on Friday, March 30, 2018. Andrea Cornejo Las Vegas Review-Journal @dreacornejo
Jasmine Caldera, left, and Reyna Mendiola embrace each other during a candlelight vigil for Monique Leiwalo, who was eight months pregnant and killed in a car crash by a drunk driver, on Rainbow Boulevard in Las Vegas on Friday, March 30, 2018. Andrea Cornejo Las Vegas Review-Journal @dreacornejo
Balloons are released in memory of Monique Leiwalo, who was eight months pregnant and killed in a car crash by a drunk driver, on Rainbow Boulevard in Las Vegas on Friday, March 30, 2018. Andrea Cornejo Las Vegas Review-Journal @dreacornejo
Friends and family gathered Friday evening to remember a Las Vegas pregnant mother who was killed in a central Las Vegas Valley crash Monday morning.
Monique Leiwalo, 29, was headed north on Rainbow Boulevard near Lake Mead Boulevard shortly before 7 a.m. when her car was rear-ended by an SUV that had also sideswiped another car, police said.
The crash sent Leiwalo’s car crashing into a pole. She died at the scene.
Her unborn child, Anthony Jr., was due in May, her sister said. “We didn’t just lose her, we lost my nephew to-be,” Jasmine Leiwalo said in an interview earlier this week.
Monique Leiwalo had moved from Hawaii to Las Vegas in 2013 with her longtime partner, Anthony Cruz.
She enjoyed the outdoors, including hiking and camping, but being with family, including her 9-year-old son, was her priority, Cruz said in an earlier interview. “She was the greatest person I knew.”
