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Yesica Barajas is charged with vehicular manslaughter in a Sunday crash that killed her two children.
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
March 21, 2025, 10:07AM
Updated 4 hours ago
1 minute read
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A Napa mother consumed marijuana and “multiple alcoholic beverages” before crashing into a tree Sunday morning and killing her two children, court records show.
Yesica Barajas had a BAC of 0.027% about 90 minutes after the crash, according to an arrest record filed with her criminal complaint.
That was based off one of two Breathalyzer tests a California Highway Patrol officer conducted while she was being treated at the Queen of the Valley Hospital in Napa. A second test, done four minutes later, showed a BAC of 0.026%. Both results are lower than the legal limit of 0.08%.
The Napa County District Attorney’s Office is charging Barajas with two counts each of gross vehicular manslaughter and child abuse, plus an additional count of driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol causing injury.
She also faces special allegations of committing serious felonies, causing great bodily injury, injuring vulnerable victims, and abusing a position of trust.
Charges were filed Wednesday while Barajas was hospitalized. Napa County Judge Elia Ortiz appointed a public defender to represent her.
Barajas was scheduled to appear in Napa County Superior Court Friday to enter a plea but the matter was rescheduled to Monday.
Killed in the crash were her two children identified by authorities this week as Damian Montanez, 10, and Aaliyah Montanez, 9.
All were in a 2006 Nissan Maxima when Barajas lost control of the car along Highway 29, according to the CHP. She was exiting toward West Imola Avenue around 7:20 a.m. Sunday and veered off the eastern edge of the offramp at high speed before crashing.
Both children, who were in the back seat, were pronounced dead at the scene. Barajas had a laceration to her face and “a major injury” to her right knee, according to the arrest record.
An arriving officer wrote in the arrest report he smelled marijuana coming from Barajas. She appeared confused and had red, watery eyes. Inside the car, he found suspected cannabis cartridges and a vape pen.
In the aftermath of the crash, loved ones launched a GoFundMe fundraiser to raise money for the children’s funeral services.
On Thursday, officials with the Napa Valley Unified School District issued a statement saying “Our hearts go out to the family as we grieve with our community and offer support during this difficult time. We continue to have counseling and social worker support available for students and staff.”
You can reach Staff Writer Colin Atagi at colin.atagi@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @colin_atagi
“}]] Napa mother consumed marijuana, ‘multiple alcoholic beverages’ before fatal crash, record shows Read More
