My son Benjamin had just turned 21 and was out riding his bike with two friends when he was struck and killed by an impaired and texting driver who never even stopped. Instead, she left Benjamin to die in the street and continued to text her boyfriend as she fled the scene. The next day she got up and replaced her windshield, then went on to work and continued with the help of her mother, to cover her crimes. After she turned herself in and was immediately bailed out, she went to Vegas where she posted pictures of herself and her boyfriend drinking and partying. She never expressed any remorse for killing my beautiful son. Though she received 9 years for vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence with an enhancement for felony hit and run, she was released on Valentine’s Day 2026 after serving only 2.5 years. This was her 4th hit and run! She knew what she was doing and tried very hard to get away with murder. Our family is outraged at the injustice of a very broken system.
Benjamin was the youngest of our 4 boys and as his brothers have said, he was the best of all of us. They told him when he was 4 years old that his real name was Bean and his middle name was Dip, so he became BeanDip and it stuck. He loved to ride his bike, go to the beach, hike, snowboard, and all sports. He had lots of friends who all considered him their ‘best friend”. He was easy-going and always stuck up for the underdog. He once said he was known as “The Dr. Phil of Ramirez Intermediate School”. I am sure that was because he was compassionate, kind, funny, forgiving and an amazing listener.
Though Benjamin’s manner of death was labeled an accident, this was a crime of gross negligence from a repeat offender. That means his killer acted with extreme recklessness and disregard for human life. Add to that her 3 prior hit and runs and being under the influence, and the criminal verdict stands as homicide. It was not an accident!
Our family now works to advocate for other victims and to change laws in California that allow a slap on the wrist for these killings.
We will work to ensure that Benjamin’s story does not end.
We will never forget.
His name was BeanDip and he mattered.
Kellie Montalvo, Benjamin’s mom.