Overview
- A rollover on northbound Interstate 17 near Cactus Road on April 12 threw a 9-year-old girl from an SUV and she was pronounced dead at the scene while three other children suffered minor injuries.
- A Maricopa County grand jury returned an indictment on May 25 that includes one count of manslaughter, three counts of child endangerment, one count of possession or use of dangerous drugs, and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia.
- Prosecutors say post-crash blood tests showed Rivera Estrada screened positive for methamphetamine and marijuana, evidence county attorneys say they waited for before filing charges.
- Brenda Rivera Estrada was moved from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody to the Maricopa County Jail and is being held on a $250,000 cash bond.
- The case drew public scrutiny after ICE said charges were initially declined and the county disputed that claim, and prosecutors emphasized that toxicology and collision reconstruction are critical to proving impairment in fatal-crash prosecutions.