On Saturday, June 19, 2021, an alleged DUI incident left two children dead and another two critically injured.
Fox News reported on its website that 46-year-old Elizabeth Nungaray is suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol when she blew through a red light and T-boned an SUV at an intersection in Porterville.
Investigators say that Nungaray’s vehicle continued and crashed into another vehicle and a utility pole after the initial crash before coming to a stop.
Emergency crews were called to the scene of the crash. Despite all efforts by rescue crews to save her, an 11-year-old girl inside the SUV died at the scene of the crash. Her 8-year-old sister was transported to an area hospital, where she also died a short time after her arrival.
Two additional siblings, a 13-year-old girl and a 4-year-old boy, were airlifted to another area hospital and are currently listed in critical condition.
After being intubated, members of the children’s family say that the 13-year-old has a 50/50 chance of ever being able to walk again.
Porterville Police Officers responding to the scene suspected that Nungaray had been drinking at the time of the fatal crash. She was arrested at the scene for gross vehicular manslaughter while under the influence of alcohol and causing an accident involving serious injury or death while impaired.
In a Tulare County Court on Tuesday, June 22, 2021, in addition to the DUI allegations, prosecutors upgraded the charges against Nungaray to two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, and additional charges of having caused great bodily harm to four victims.
Court records indicate that Nungaray also has a previous DUI conviction.
