Calif. Mother Arrested for DUI After Crash Claims Lives of Her Children
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In a heartbreaking turn of events, a California mother, Yesica Barajas, has been taken into custody under suspicion of driving under the influence following a tragic car accident in Napa that claimed the lives of her two young children. The victims, identified as 10-year-old Damian Montanez and 9-year-old Aaliyah Montanez, lost their lives in the devastating crash.
According to reports from NBC Bay Area, Barajas was apprehended on DUI charges after the fatal incident, which also resulted in her sustaining injuries. The Napa County arrest records revealed that she faces charges of DUI causing injury to another person, as well as two counts of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, as per the California Penal Code.
The harrowing collision occurred on a Sunday morning around 7:30 a.m. local time on southbound Highway 29 near the Imola Avenue off-ramp in Napa, as outlined by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) and reported by ABC affiliate KABC-TV. Allegedly, Barajas was driving a black Nissan at a high rate of speed when she lost control of the vehicle, leading to a collision with a tree.
After the crash, Barajas and two other passengers, who were minors, were found in the vehicle. Unfortunately, the two young children did not survive the impact, while Barajas was rushed to a nearby hospital to receive medical treatment for her injuries sustained during the accident, stated the Napa County Sheriff’s Office.
CHP Sargent Andrew Barclay shared insights with KABC, mentioning that once Barajas concludes her medical treatment, she is expected to face multiple felony charges, including manslaughter charges. The authorities are conducting an extensive investigation into the tragedy, aiming to uncover all relevant details surrounding the incident.
Barclay expressed deep sorrow over the heartbreaking loss of the two young lives, stating, “A tragic situation is made even more tragic [by] the fact that two young kids lost their lives due to the decision of someone else to drive impaired. That’s a hard thing to get past.”
The names of the two children, Damian Montanez and Aaliyah Montanez, were officially released by the Napa County Coroner’s Office, and it was disclosed that they were both students in the Napa Valley Unified School District. The school district extended their condolences to the grieving family and offered support services to students and staff members during this difficult period.
To assist the Montanez family with funeral expenses, a GoFundMe campaign was launched. The family described Damian and Aaliyah as “sweet, loving, full of life kids” who had a positive impact on everyone they encountered. They reminisced about the children’s fondness for camping in Lake Tahoe with their grandparents, Lilia and Enrique, underlining the profound sorrow and devastation felt by the family.
At the time of writing, Barajas remains in custody on a $500,000 bail, as indicated by police booking records. The community is left mourning the loss of two young souls in a tragic event that serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of impaired driving.
The California Highway Patrol, Napa County Sheriff’s Office, and Napa County Coroner’s Office have yet to respond to requests for comment from PEOPLE, highlighting the ongoing nature of the investigation into this heartbreaking incident. The communities affected by this tragedy are left to grapple with the profound loss and seek solace in coming together to support one another during this challenging time.