A 35-year-old Tennessee woman was charged with two counts of murder in a multi-vehicle crash in Walnut Creek last week that killed a father and daughter, police said Tuesday.
Jessica Martin was driving under the influence of alcohol Thursday evening when she collided with three vehicles traveling in the opposite direction on South Broadway, polioce said. Hector Garza died at the scene and his 8-month-old daughter Camilla died of her injuries Tuesday at Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland, police said.
The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office reviewed the case and charged Martin with two counts of murder, one count of driving under the influence of alcohol causing great bodily injury and one count of driving with a 0.08 percent or greater blood alcohol content causing injury.
Just after 6:30 p.m. Thursday, emergency dispatchers received multiple 911 calls reporting a rollover collision and possible fatality on South Broadway, near Interstate 680.
Upon arrival at the scene of the collision, emergency crews pronounced one driver dead and transported a young child located in that same vehicle to the hospital with major injuries, police said.
Contra Costa County Fire Protection District firefighters extricated the driver of another vehicle, who was transported to the hospital with major injuries.
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Police said the driver of a third vehicle suffered minor injuries and was also transported to the hospital.
Martin, the driver of the fourth vehicle, suffered moderate injuries as well and was transported to John Muir Medical Center, where police arrested her Thursday night. The passenger in her vehicle also suffered minor injuries and was transported to the hospital for treatment.
Martin remained in custody on $2.1 million bail.
A GoFundMe campaign for Garza's family had collected nearly $65,000 of an $80,000 goal as of late Tuesday night.
Police investigators are still trying to determine where Martin was coming from prior to the collision and are asking the public to contact Walnut Creek police Detective Sgt. Bruce Jower with any information at (925) 943-5899 ext. 3582 or jower@walnutcreekpd.com.
