Francisco Ivan Garcia-Barragan has been charged with vehicular homicide and two counts of vehicular assault following a tragic crash on December 8 that killed his passenger, Birsan Cruz-Ramirez. Reports indicate that Garcia-Barragan was driving under the influence when he lost control of his vehicle, resulting in a rollover that ejected Cruz-Ramirez, who died from multiple blunt force injuries. After the crash, Garcia-Barragan fled the scene without contacting authorities and left his vehicle on the road without hazard lights, leading to another collision that injured two individuals in a separate vehicle, one of whom required emergency surgery for a torn aorta. Evidence collected at the scene, including seatbelt marks and signs of intoxication, contradicted his initial claim of being a passenger. Garcia-Barragan, who has a prior impaired driving conviction and was unlicensed, is currently detained at the Maleng Regional Justice Center on a $75,000 bail, awaiting an arraignment hearing.

This case highlights the severe consequences of impaired driving.