SAN ANTONIO – Andrea Arizmendi wishes this was a bad dream.
Her 25-year-old brother Ruben Arizmendi died Tuesday after riding away from Alamo Cycle Plex on his very first motorcycle.
Police said he lost control of the bike and slid across three lanes of traffic into the path of an oncoming SUV.
Arizmendi died at the scene.
"I went to go look at where it happened and I just can't believe it wasn't… he didn't even drive a mile," Andrea said, struggling to control her tears.
Ruben's mother witnessed the accident. She drove him to the dealership to pick up the motorcycle even though, Andrea said, their mother never liked the idea.
"She was always against us getting a motorcycle - all of us getting a motorcycle," she said.
But that's what Andrea and her big brother planned to do - take motorcycle riding lessons together.
Ruben had little experience and had only taken a few lessons from his uncle.
Now through their grief, his family has hope that others will think twice.
"Just wait until you know you're prepared to do it. Or until you're just ready," Andrea said.
She adds that her family did not know Ruben planned on buying a bike and they don't know whether he ever took any lessons.
He was the "big brother anybody wished they had," Andrea said.
"He would always tell us ‘no, you gotta go, you gotta go. You gotta keep going.' So that's what we're going to do. We're going to keep going."
The Arizmendi family has set up a fund to help pay for funeral costs. Those who would like to donate can do so at the Generations Federal Credit Union under the name Ruben E. Arizmendi.
For a list of recent stories Myra Arthur has done, click here.