According to the Highway Patrol, a pickup truck driven by a Kerman man ran the stop sign and broadsided the car carrying the women and children. Both vehicles overturned and ended up in a vineyard.
The two women have been identified as 29-year-old Christina Ledesma and her mother, 67-year-old Maria Ledesma. The names of the children have not been released. They are all under 5 years of age.
According to the Highway Patrol, Christina Ledesma was the mother of one of the children; she was apparently babysitting the other two. Two of the children suffered what the Highway Patrol described as minor to moderate injuries. The third child suffered severe head trauma.
The driver of the pickup truck that hit them was identified as 34-year-old Erick Diaz. According to Highway Patrol Officer Axel Reyes, Diaz did not appear to have been under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Reyes told Action News that Diaz said he drove the road every day and simply did not notice the stop sign.
Reyes says Diaz sustained minor injuries and was treated at the hospital. He is not in custody but is expected to face charges of vehicular manslaughter.
