24-year-old's death is second tragedy in a year for North Coast family
A North Coast family devastated by tragedy a year ago when a toddler and teen were killed in a single-car crash near Cayucos is reeling from the death of one more family member, who was hit by a car Tuesday.
Michael Jason Brito, 24, of Los Osos was struck by a Toyota Prius while crossing the street at about 8:30 p.m. near a family home on Los Osos Valley Road.
Brito had suffered major injuries in the Oct. 25, 2014, crash that killed his 17-year-old brother, Simon Brito, and his 22-month-old nephew, Mason Simmonds-Gibson, and seriously injured his younger sister, Wendi Brito.
The family members were passengers in that deadly crash. The driver, Tanner Noah Mengore, is facing felony DUI charges for allegedly driving under the influence of the synthetic drug “spice” when the crash occurred.
On Tuesday, Michael Brito was crossing into westbound traffic on Los Osos Valley Road just west of Pine Street when he was hit by the Prius traveling about 35 to 40 mph, according to the CHP.
Stacey Brito, the toddler’s mother and sister to Michael and Simon Brito, could not be reached Wednesday, but was grief-stricken in a Facebook post.
She called the latest family tragedy “unbelievable” and said she was “hurting so (expletive) bad.”
She called Michael Brito her “best friend” and recalled the times they had listened to music, laughed and reminisced about their brother Simon.
Directing her post to Michael Brito, she wrote that she went to the scene of Tuesday’s fatality after being called by her parents.
“I couldn’t believe it. Got to the scene and your (sic) there lying on the ground covered up. I was yelling your name so you could wake up but no respond.”
CHP Sgt. Tim Wilson said authorities are still looking into why the incident happened.
Wilson said family members said Michael Brito had been drinking, and investigators were looking into that as a possible factor in his death. A toxicology examination is expected to be completed in the next couple of weeks, Wilson said. The driver is not believed to be at fault in the incident.
“We’re not sure,” Wilson said. “Alcohol could have played a factor in this. … We’re still looking at this, but right now, we’re giving the family members a little bit of time to grieve.”
Wendi Brito wrote on Facebook, “I sit here crying wondering what to do, wondering why both of my brother (sic) are now gone. I want to blame someone I want to blame God, but there is no need for that because God works in very mysterious ways. … I need my older brother because there’s no one that could replace him. I never did tell him all the things I felt, like how much I really did love him.”
This story was originally published October 7, 2015 at 6:38 PM with the headline "24-year-old's death is second tragedy in a year for North Coast family."