DUI Crash Leaves Family Dead, Murder Charges Filed

In California, a DUI murder charge is a second-degree murder charge. Generally, before a prosecutor will charge a person with DUI murder, also known as a ‘Watson’ murder, they must have at least one previous DUI on their record. However, under certain circumstances, a prosecutor may charge a suspect with DUI murder even without a previous DUI charge on their record. This tends to happen in particularly egregious cases, when the prosecutor will charge the suspect with both DUI murder and gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.

CBS Local San Francisco reports on a woman facing DUI murder charges in connection with an accident that left a father and his child dead.

Prosecutors have filed second-degree murder charges against 35-year-old Jessica Martin of Tennessee, along with other DUI charges.

The charges stem from an accident that occurred on October 25th. According to authorities, Martin was traveling south on South Broadway when she collided with three separate vehicles traveling in the northbound lane.

In one of those vehicles was Hector Garza and his 8-month-old daughter, Camilla. Hector died the day of the accident. Sadly, 8-month-old Camilla succumbed to her injuries on October 30th.

Another person involved in the accident was transported to John Muir Medical Center with serious injuries. Their current condition was not known.

Contra Costa County prosecutors have filed two counts of murder, one count of driving under the influence causing great bodily injury, and one count of driving with a blood-alcohol content of .08% or greater causing injury against Martin.

She is currently being held on $2.1 million dollars bail.

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