Phoenix mother indicted on manslaughter, drug charges in fatal I-17 rollover crash

A Phoenix mother has been indicted on multiple felony charges, including manslaughter, following a rollover crash on Interstate 17 last month that killed her 9-year-old daughter, authorities announced.

Brenda Rivera-Estrada, 30, was taken into custody on a $250,000 cash bond after being transferred to the Maricopa County Jail from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office said.

The fatal crash occurred April 12 on northbound I-17 near Cactus Road. According to the Arizona Department of Public Safety, Rivera-Estrada lost control of her SUV, causing it to roll over.

Her 9-year-old daughter was ejected from the vehicle and died from her injuries, while three other children inside the SUV suffered minor injuries.

Rivera-Estrada and her other three children, an 11-year-old boy, a 3-year-old boy and a 1-year-old girl, were treated for their injuries at a hospital and released.

Investigators said Rivera-Estrada was seen driving erratically and they initially suspected she was under the influence of marijuana at the scene, but prosecutors chose to further the case while awaiting toxicology and collision analysis results.

A little more than a month later, blood test results revealed Rivera-Estrada screened positive for both marijuana and methamphetamine, according to county prosecutors.

Following the crash, Rivera-Estrada was detained by ICE officials before the formal state charges were filed.

Rivera-Estrada, 30, is a Mexican citizen who entered the U.S. through Nogales 17 years ago with authorization to remain in the country for up to 30 days, according to ICE.

A Maricopa County grand jury indicted her on one count of manslaughter, three counts of endangerment, one count of possession or use of dangerous drugs and one count of possession or use of drug paraphernalia.

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