Mother pleads not guilty to murder charges in Napa crash that killed her 2 children

"A Napa mother pleaded not guilty Tuesday to second-degree murder charges that were filed in July, which prosecutors added to earlier counts stemming from a crash that killed her two children. Yesica Barajas, 31, entered her plea before Napa County Judge Elia Ortiz, who set her next court appearance for Oct. 2 to schedule a preliminary hearing, according to court records. Jail logs show Barajas remains in custody at the Napa County jail without bail."

"Authorities say Barajas was driving a 2006 Nissan Maxima around 4 a.m. March 16 when she veered off the Highway 29 offramp at West Imola Avenue and struck a tree. The California Highway Patrol initially reported the crash had happened the next morning, but prosecutors later clarified it occurred hours earlier and wasn't discovered until about 7:30 a.m. Both children died at the scene."

"Deputy District Attorney Katie Susemihl said Barajas consumed cannabis after work the afternoon of March 15, then drank alcohol while out with family. She returned home in the early morning hours, left again with her children around 4 a.m., and crashed shortly afterward. According to the arrest report, Barajas suffered cuts to her face and a serious knee injury. A responding officer noted she appeared confused, with red, watery eyes and smelling of cannabis. Investigators found cannabis cartridges and a vape pen inside the car."

Yesica Barajas, 31, pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder charges that were added to earlier vehicular manslaughter and child abuse counts in the March 16 crash that killed her son, Damian Montanez, 10, and daughter, Aaliyah Montanez, 9. Barajas entered her plea before Judge Elia Ortiz and remains in custody without bail; a preliminary hearing is scheduled for Oct. 2. Authorities say she veered off a Highway 29 offramp around 4 a.m., struck a tree, and the crash was not discovered until about 7:30 a.m. Prosecutors said Barajas consumed cannabis and later drank alcohol the night before. Officers reported she appeared confused with red, watery eyes and the smell of cannabis; investigators found vape cartridges and a vape pen in the vehicle. Two breath tests about 90 minutes after the crash registered BACs of 0.027% and 0.026%.

Read at The Mercury News