Left inset: Alexa Cortez Rivera (GoFundMe). Right inset: Brenda Liliana Rivera Estrada (Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office). Background: The SUV that Brenda Liliana Rivera Estrada was allegedly driving recklessly when she killed her daughter, Alexa Cortez Rivera, in Phoenix, Ariz. (KPNX/YouTube).
An Arizona woman is accused of causing the death of her 9-year-old daughter in a rollover accident after allegedly making her daughter share a seat belt with a sibling. The mother, Brenda Liliana Rivera Estrada, was reportedly driving with her 1-year-old daughter and two sons, aged 3 and 11, when the tragic incident occurred. Authorities noted reckless driving and detected the smell of marijuana in the vehicle.
The Arizona Department of Public Safety informed Law&Crime that Rivera Estrada, 30, has been charged with manslaughter and four counts of child abuse following the Sunday morning accident that also resulted in her hospitalization. After receiving medical treatment, she was transferred to the Maricopa County Jail.
Alexa Cortez Rivera, the young girl who lost her life, was honored by family members on Facebook and through a GoFundMe campaign initiated by her grandmother. The fundraiser describes Alexa as a cherished child whose promising future was tragically cut short.
The Department of Public Safety reports that the accident happened as Estrada drove north on Interstate 17 in Phoenix, near Peoria Avenue. The crash resulted in severe injuries for Estrada and her children, with Alexa being made to share a seat belt with another child as Estrada allegedly drove recklessly.
Prosecutors claim Estrada was overtaking other vehicles and exhibiting dangerous driving behavior at the time of the accident.
“Multiple witnesses stated that she was driving above the posted speed limit, which was 65,” a prosecutor told a Maricopa County judge on Monday during Estrada’s first court appearance, according to local NBC affiliate KPNX.
“They said that she was passing vehicles,” the prosecutor alleged. “She was driving recklessly.”
Authorities who arrived at the crash scene after the SUV flipped over reported smelling marijuana in Estrada’s car. “The suspect chose to get in a vehicle where she was allegedly under the influence of marijuana,” the prosecutor said in court.
“I was not high,” Estrada insisted while speaking to the judge overseeing her case. She allegedly told police she had smoked the morning before but not on the day of the crash.
“I think that it’s just a tragedy,” the judge said.
Estrada is being held on a $100,000 bond.
“Alexa, no words can describe the pain you’ve left us,” a loved one wrote on Facebook, noting how the girl’s father had died several years ago.
“I can’t believe you’re gone,” the person said. “You’ll be deeply missed and always in our hearts. Keep being the sweet, lovely and funny girl you were always. All I can think of right now is you’re with your dad hugging each other in heaven.”
