Wasco man pleads no contest to all counts in DUI crash that killed 1yearold
Oct 08, 2024
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) -- A Wasco man accused of driving drunk in a crash that killed a 1-year-old girl pleaded no contest to all charges Tuesday for a court-indicated sentence of eight years and four months in prison.
Irving De Jesus Rodriguez-Barraza made an "open plea," entering no contest pleas to all counts -- gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and two counts of DUI causing injury. He'd faced more time behind bars if convicted at trial.
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The court-indicated plea was taken over the prosecution's objections, said Deputy District Attorney Kacie Barrier.
Rodriguez-Barraza's attorney, David A. Torres, said, "Despite the open plea, this was a court-indicated disposition which we believed was fair given the circumstances."
Sentencing is set for Nov. 14.
Around 4:30 p.m. on July 23, 2022, Rodriguez-Barraza and a passenger were traveling in a Dodge Ram east on Burbank Street, according to California Highway Patrol. A Bakersfield man was driving a Jeep Cherokee with a woman and two children — ages 6 and 1 — north on Shafter Avenue approaching Burbank Street.
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The Dodge ran a stop sign and crashed into the left side of the Jeep, pushing it into an almond orchard, officers said. The Jeep hit two power poles and an almond tree before overturning on its left side.
The 1-year-old was pronounced dead at Kern Medical. All occupants of the vehicles suffered injuries, officers said.