ARLINGTON, Texas — Dozens of motorcyclists gathered in Grand Prairie Monday night to pay tribute to two fellow female riders who died on their bikes over the weekend.
Both women rode with each other and a group of riders from the metroplex Friday night and died within hours of saying goodbye to one another.
Julie Maldonado, 43, was killed Friday night by an alleged drunk driver who sped through a red light along SH-360 and Webb Lynn Road in Arlington. Maldonado was with her boyfriend, who witnessed the crash. A nurse who saw what happened performed life-saving maneuvers on Maldonado until first responders could arrive. She was taken off life support Saturday, however.
Kenneth Polk was later arrested and charged with intoxication manslaughter.
The next day, Fantasia Williamson, 38, was killed along East Loop 820 South Freeway NB in Fort Worth.
A spokesperson for the Fort Worth Police Department said "that a motorcyclist was attempting to pass a truck pulling a trailer and crashed into a barrier."
Albert Carmond said it's an excruciating blow to the riding community. Carmond organized a memorial night ride for both women. Riders traveled with glow sticks, stopped at Maldonado's accident location, and revved their engines as a tribute.
"When it's somebody close like this — it just hits a lot harder," Carmond said. "The first time I met Julie, she smiled and hugged me. She was like that with everyone. Anyone here can attest to that."
Jeremy Suttie, an area rider who organizes bike meets, said Maldonado and Williamson had dinner together when the group stopped for a break Friday night.
"It's still hard for me to fathom that this happened to both of them," Suttie said. "Fantasia was always smiling when we were talking about her bike. She loved that bike. For two girls in the same group to have two separate wrecks after hanging out with one another--it's just unbelievable."
The group left a gas station along I-30 and Belt Line, did a lap around Joe Pool Lake, and ended the night at the location of Maldonado's accident.
Many wore pink and had 'Hello Kitty' stickers for Maldonado — two things she was fond of.
They also advocated for people to find alternative ways home after drinking — that a $15 ride from a service like Uber could have spared Maldonado's life.