Mother in fatal Napa DUI crash booked into jail, makes first court appearance
Mar 24, 2025
(KRON) -- A woman who was allegedly driving under the influence in last week's crash in Napa County was booked into jail Sunday, according to the California Highway Patrol (CHP). Yesica Barajas, 31, is facing multiple felony counts that include gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.
Baraja
s appeared in a Napa County courtroom Monday morning, where she did not make eye contact with anyone. With many of her family members in attendance, her attorney asked the judge for a continuance, telling the court he needed more time to review the case.
Barajas was booked into the Napa County Department of Corrections on Sunday after spending the last several days in the hospital suffering from major injuries due to the crash on Highway 29. Authorities said she was behind the wheel in a morning crash on March 16 that killed her 9-year-old daughter and 10-year-old son.
The mother's bail is currently set at $1,500,000, according to county jail records. Following Monday's proceedings, bail will be discussed at Barajas' next court appearance, which is set for April 1.
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Around 7 a.m. on March 16, CHP officers responded to the Highway 29 offramp near Imola Avenue. Barajas was allegedly behind the wheel of a 2006 Nissan sedan that had crashed into a tree 20 to 30 feet below an embankment.
The crimes, according to the Napa County district attorney, constituted an increased level of seriousness due to her prior crimes.
Barajas' two children were identified as 9-year-old Aaliyah Montanez and 10-year-old Damien Montanez. Both were students in the Napa Valley Unified School District.
Barajas remains in custody at Napa County Jail. ...read more read less