Two Girls Die When ‘Drunken Mom’ Wrecks Into 30ft-Deep Reservoir
Chula Vista, CA – Two 5-year-old girls died when the allegedly drunken mother of one child plunged the van she was driving in a 30-foot deep reservoir. Arlene Hernandez, 22, cried in court earlier this week while pleading not guilt to DUI manslaughter charges in the death of her own daughter and the little girl’s friend, the Daily Mail reports.
Lesette Silva, the daughter of the driver, and Guiliana ‘Juju’ Figueroa were trapped inside the van as it sank into the California reservoir. Both girls were transported to Rady Children’s Hospital via helicopter but were pronounced dead shortly after arrival. The allegedly drunken mom and Juju’s father, Eric Figueroa, freed themselves from the van and escaped without injury.
Hernandez, the male passenger, and the 5-year-old girls were on their way to go swimming when the allegedly drunken driver lost control of the car on Otay Lake Road, according to the San Diego Union Tribune. The Kia Sedona flipped over on its top when it veered down an embankment and began sinking. The deadly crash happened near the US Olympic Training Center.
“At this point it is very traumatic experience, not only for her but a lot of other people involved. Allow them to grieve and mourn their children, then we’ll see how this case is going to shake out. Ms. Hernandez is very distraught about what happened,” attorney Jonathan Jordan stated after the court hearing.
The adults allegedly tried to release the little girls from their seat belts but unable to help them escape. Witnesses to the accident and US Border Patrol agents freed the children from the submerged van. California Highway Patrol officers report Arlene Hernandez was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident. Deputy District Attorney Mary Loeb has not yet received the results of Hernandez’s blood alcohol test. If convicted of manslaughter for the car accident and drowning deaths of the two little girls, Hernandez could be sentenced to up to 13 years in prison.
San Diego, California News Station – KFMB Channel 8 – cbs8.com
