KTSM 9 News has learned more about the tragic single-vehicle crash that claimed the lives of two children and led to serious charges against the driver, who was identified as the mother of the 12-year-old girl that died.
New Mexico State Police confirmed that the Juliah, the 12-year-old who died from her injuries after the car she was riding in crashed through a pole and chain-link fence in Vado, was related to the driver who is being charged with two counts of vehicular homicide.
Christina Escobeda-Arriaga is facing several charges, including driving while intoxicated and great bodily injury by a motor vehicle after she allegedly drove a 2007 purple Dodge Charger off the roadway.
Julilah was one of the two kids a state police officer found dead in the backseat of Escobeda-Arriaga’s car when they responded to the crash site along 8100 New Mexico Highway 478 Sunday evening.
The other child that died in the crash was Steven, 15. The relationship between Escobedo-Arriaga and Steven, as well as the surviving 15-year-old, have not been not been publicly released by investigators.
The third juvenile, who survived the crash, was taken to a hospital for treatment. State police noted that the surviving teen had been wearing a seatbelt, while the other passengers did not appear to have been properly restrained.
Alcohol is believed to have been a contributing factor in the crash. Escobedo-Arriaga was treated for her injuries at MountainView Regional Medical Center before being booked into the Doña Ana County Detention Center late Sunday evening.
KTSM reported Tuesday that Escobeda-Arriaga was released from jail on her own recognizance.
We reached out newly elected District Attorney of Doña Ana County, Fernando Macias, for clarification on why Escobeda-Arriaga was released from jail. We had not heard back from Macias by the time this story was published.
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