Crash victims were 'compassionate'

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) - The two women who police said were killed in when a suspected bank robber plowed his van into their car were described as giving people, the victims' friends and family said Wednesday.

Kimberly Aragon-Nunez and Janice Flores were killed while waiting a red light on Coors and Quail around lunch time Tuesday when police said Jeremiah Jackson lost control of his van and plowed into them.

Police said he'd been trying to get away from them after he'd robbed the New Mexico Bank and Trust.

"It's just sad that someone like that is taken away from not only my family, but from you know the community and the city of Albuquerque," said Aragon-Nunez's older brother Lucas Aragon.

He said Aragon-Nunez lived her life helping others. While working for First Choice Community Health as the program director for the Women, Infants and Children program, Aragon-Nunez was studying to become a social worker.

"She worked with at-risk mothers," Aragon said. "She was working on her masters degree in social work."

When she wasn't doing that, he said, her time was spent with her three children ages 12, 8 and 6.

"She was an amazing mother," said Aragon. "She just, you know, loved her children so much and she, you know, I think she ran herself just ragged just running them around to football practice and gymnastics."

Aragon-Nunez was behind the wheel with her co-worker Janice Flores. The women were picking lunch up for their co-workers. On Wednesday, their co-workers decided to close the office until Thursday and flags were at half-staff.

According to a federal criminal complaint, Jackson told agents he went into the New Mexico Bank and Trust in the morning, demanded money from two tellers then took off.

The report said a witness took down down the license plate number. Police said they spotted Jackson's minivan and chased Jackson across town on Interstate 40 until he exited onto Coors.

Jackson then tried to make a right hand turn onto Quail, lost control of his minivan and crashed into the victims' car, according to the criminal complaint.

Jackson has been in and out of jail for the past ten years on numerous crimes. He was released from prison six weeks ago.

Friends and family of Flores' didn't want to go on-camera, but they describe her as "giving" and "loving." The single-mother leaves behind two children, ages 10 and 5. She had worked for First Choice Community Health as a nutritionest within the WIC program since 2007.

Aragon-Nunez had worked for First Choice since 2006.

Bob Defelice, the CEO for First Choice, said he had sent an e-mail to the victims' co-workers. He described the women as "vibrant" and "innovative," and said that he would bring in other state health department workers to staff the office while the women's co-workers grieve. On Friday, Defelice said he also planned on having a meeting with staff.

Jackson faces federal murder charges for their deaths.

"It's just tragic that something like that has to happen to someone like this," Aragon said. "She was so much fun and we would just always laugh and have a great time and anyone who knows her knows that."

Memorial funds for the victims have been set up at Wells-Fargo under Kimberly Aragon-Nunez Benefit Memorial Fund and Janice Flores Memorial Fund. You can also go to this Web site.