California: Brian Jones convicted of DUI manslaughter for killing Esperanza Morales-Rodriguez and Yulidia Perez

Brian Jones, 35, of Livermore, is suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol and was arrested for suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and driving while under the influence of alcohol causing injury on Saturday, May 2, 2015. Jones was driving a vehicle on Murrieta Boulevard in Livermore, Calif., and struck four people, killing a 40-year-old woman her 14-month-old daughter. Two boys, ages 6 and 7, were taken to a hospital for treatment of their injuries. (Livermore Police Department)

Brian Jones, 35, of Livermore, was convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol after being arrested for suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and driving while under the influence of alcohol causing injury on Saturday, May 2, 2015. Jones was driving a vehicle on Murrieta Boulevard in Livermore, Calif., and struck four people, killing a 40-year-old woman her 14-month-old daughter. Two boys, ages 6 and 7, were taken to a hospital for treatment of their injuries. (Livermore Police Department)

Update From District Attorney Nancy O’Malley:

People v Brian Zachary Jones

Boozing Jerk Showed Off
in His Corvette Before Plowing Into Family

On November 13, 2017, a jury found defendant Brian Zachary Jones guilty of two counts of second-degree murder for the deaths of 44-year-old Esperanza Morales-Rodriguez and her one-year-old daughter Yulidia Perez. The jury also convicted Defendant Jones of driving under the influence of alcohol and injuring a seven-year-old child, Carlos Morales.

On May 2, 2015, Defendant Jones and a friend attended the Livermore Wine Festival and they concluded their drinking at Buffalo Wild Wings at approximately 6 pm. Though intoxicated, Defendant Jones decided to drive the friend home in his new Corvette.

Meanwhile, the extended family of Ms. Morales-Rodriguez was celebrating a birthday and first communion of family members at a residence in the 900 block of Murieta Boulevard, in Livermore. Seven-year-old Carlos Morales was playing with a cousin in the backyard of the apartment, while Mrs. Morales-Rodriguez and her daughter were walking along a path leading to the complex.

At approximately 6:51 pm, Defendant Jones was driving at 99 mph in a posted 35 mph zone when he failed to negotiate a bend in the roadway, jumped a curb, and struck Mrs. Morales-Rodriguez and her young child. The Corvette continued forward and crashed into the rear fences of two apartments. Young Carlos and his cousin were injured by flying debris and were treated at the Children’s Hospital for their injuries. Tragically, Mrs. Morales-Rodriguez and her daughter Yulidia were killed instantly.

Bystanders removed Defendant Jones from the Corvette and detained him at the scene until Livermore Police arrived. Defendant Jones registered a 0.13 and 0.14 blood alcohol content in the preliminary alcohol screening test at the scene, and a blood test later at Eden Hospital confirmed a 0.14 blood alcohol content.

After extensive accident investigations by both CHP and Livermore Police Department, Defendant Jones was found to have accelerated to 99 mph in the short distance between Stanley Blvd. the collision. The throttle of his vehicle was at 99 percent immediately before the Corvette hit the curb. Witnesses who testified at the trial described how Defendant Jones had been driving recklessly and with excessive speed around the neighborhood in the minutes before the crash, as well as almost striking other people standing near the sidewalk on Murieta.

Defendant Brian Zachary Jones is scheduled to be sentenced on February 23, 2018.

The case was prosecuted by DDA Kevin Ikuma with assistance from DA Inspector Eric Karsseboom and Victim-Witness Advocate Nicole Santos.

DA O’Malley Announces Charges Filed in Death of Mother and Child in Livermore

OAKLAND, CA – Alameda County District Attorney Nancy E. O’Malley announced  that Brian Zachary Jones, age 35, has been charged with two counts of murder and two counts of felony driving under the influence of alcohol causing injury. The complaint includes multiple victim clauses as well as excessive speed clauses.

On May 3, 2015, defendant Jones, while under the influence of alcohol, drove his car at speeds ranging from 75 mph to 99 mph through residential streets of Livermore, CA. At 6:50 pm, the defendant failed to negotiate a turn in the 900 block of Murrieta Blvd. and left the roadway. Defendant Jones struck and killed Esperanza Morales and her 14-month-old daughter Yulida as they walked on a pathway before slamming into the rear of a relative’s apartment. The incident also resulted in serious injury to two children, ages 6 and 7, who were playing in the rear patio area of the apartment at the time.

The Livermore Police Department and the California Highway Patrol conducted a thorough and intensive traffic collision investigation that includes accident reconstruction, blood-alcohol testing and the examination of the event data recorder removed from the wreckage of the defendant’s car. Defendant Jones’ blood alcohol content was determined to be 0.14 percent.

“Esperanza Morales and her baby daughter lost their lives while visiting family Livermore. A joyous occasion turned into a nightmare that has devastated a family and stunned the community,” states D.A. O’Malley. “My Office will ensure that justice is served and that Brian Jones is held accountable for his actions.”

The defendant was arrested without incident.

LIVERMORE, CALIF. — Brian Jones, 35, of Livermore, is suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol and was arrested for suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and driving while under the influence of alcohol causing injury on Saturday, May 2, 2015.

Jones was driving a vehicle on Murrieta Boulevard in Livermore, Calif., and struck four people, killing a 40-year-old woman her 14-month-old daughter.

Two boys, ages 6 and 7, were taken to a hospital for treatment of their injuries. (Livermore Police Department)

Livermore Police Department reports:
On May 2, 2015, at approximately 6:51 PM, the Livermore Police Department responded to 975 Murrieta Boulevard for a report of a traffic collision involving a vehicle into a structure. The preliminary investigation revealed Brian Jones (35-year-old Livermore resident) was driving a 2014 Chevrolet Corvette eastbound on Murrieta Boulevard and appeared to have been spe
eding and lost control of his vehicle. Jones’ vehicle left the roadway and struck two pedestrians who were walking on a paved pathway that leads from the sidewalk to the apartment complex. 

 

DUI double fatal Livermore PD Calif photo

Jones’ vehicle struck two trees before colliding into the backyards of two apartments and came to a rest when it struck the rear of the second apartment. Two victims who were initially struck by the vehicle, a 40-year-old female and her 14-month-old daughter succumbed to their injuries at the scene. Two other victims who were in the backyard at the time of the collision, a 7-year-old male and 6-year-old male, were struck by debris from the vehicle and transported to area hospitals. There is no indication that any other vehicles were involved in this collision. 

Jones is suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol and was arrested for suspicion of Gross Vehicular Manslaughter While Intoxicated – a violation of 191.5 PC and Driving While Under the Influence of Alcohol Causing Injury – a violation of 23153 CVC. Jones was treated for his injures and booked into the Alameda County Jail. 

This is a horrific and unfortunate event and the Livermore Police Department offers its condolences to the families involved. 

LPD would like to remind people to drive sober and if anyone has been drinking to designate a sober driver for a safe ride home.

The Livermore Police Department is asking that anyone who witnessed this collision, or has any information, to please contact the Livermore Police Department at 925-371-4777.

From Contra Costa Times:

LIVERMORE — A woman and child died from a car accident caused by a suspected DUI driver, who plowed into an apartment complex in the 900 block of Murrieta Boulevard on Saturday evening, police said.
The incident happened about 6:50 p.m., when a 35-year old Livermore resident reportedly lost control of his vehicle while driving eastbound on Murrieta.
He struck the back of the building and hit a 40 year-old woman and 14 month-old girl, who were in the backyard, police said. They died of injuries at the scene.
Two boys, aged 6 and 7, also were transported to area hospitals and are in stable condition.
The driver is suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol and was arrested for suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.
The names of the victims are not being released at this time. The collision is still under investigation and no further information was available late Saturday night from police.
Ashton Nelson, 27, neighbor in apartment complex, said that she was just outside of her apartment, barbecuing on the patio, when she heard a “really, loud thunder-like noise.”
She immediately grabbed her two-year-old daughter….MORE

Famous Pirate Stories CLICK to hear FREE five min. sample in eBook, paperback and Audible