Driver admits to murdering girl, man in Pittsburg DUI crash

MARTINEZ — A Bay Space man pleaded no contest to murdering a person and younger woman in a 2021 drunk driving crash in Pittsburg, and can be formally sentenced to life in jail subsequent month.

Christian Ricardo Vargas, 26, killed 7-year-old Sela Mataele-Rosalez and 28-year-old Romero Castro in a Pittsburg crash that additionally injured Sela’s mom and her two brothers, 6, and three. Vargas was on probation for a previous DUI conviction on the time of the crash, authorities mentioned.

Prosecutors charged Vargas with murdering Sela and Castro and injuring 5 victims who survived the crash. He was additionally charged with committing a DUI inside 10 years of a previous DUI offense.

The prior DUI offense would have given prosecutors a significant benefit had the case gone to trial; below state regulation, drunk driving homicide prosecutions should set up that the defendant was intoxicated and knew his or her actions have been harmful to human life. When individuals obtain DUI convictions they’re formally admonished that they may have killed somebody, making a paper path that can be utilized in opposition to them in the event that they drive drunk once more.

The April 12, 2021 crash occurred at about 6 p.m. on West Leland Highway, east of John Henry Johnson Parkway. Investigators mentioned a Toyota Corolla pushed by Castro and a Chevrolet Camaro pushed by Vargas have been each in eastbound lanes when the Camaro, touring at excessive pace, rear-ended the Corolla.

Castro, the Corolla’s driver, misplaced management and struck a number of timber, authorities mentioned; he was pronounced lifeless on the scene and an grownup passenger suffered main accidents. The three kids have been ejected from the Corolla’s again seat: Sela, in addition to the 2-year-old, who was in a automobile seat, and the 5-year-old.

Nearly precisely a yr after the crash, final April 7, Vargas pleaded no contest to homicide and drunk driving costs, court docket data present. He’s scheduled to be formally sentenced to 21 years to life on Could 6, earlier than Superior Court docket Choose Charles “Ben” Burch.

Vargas has been in Contra Costa County jail for the reason that costs have been filed final yr.