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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 her 9-year-old daughter’s death in a rollover accident by making her share a seat belt with a sibling. The crash involved her 1-year-old daughter and two sons, aged 3 and 11. Authorities report that the mother drove erratically, and there was a noticeable scent of marijuana in the vehicle.
The Arizona Department of Public Safety informed Law&Crime that 30-year-old Brenda Liliana Rivera Estrada faces charges including manslaughter and child abuse after the Sunday morning incident, which also resulted in her hospitalization due to injuries.
Following her discharge from the hospital, Estrada was taken into custody at the Maricopa County Jail, officials stated. Her daughter, Alexa Cortez Rivera, was mourned on Facebook by family members and through a GoFundMe campaign started by her grandmother.
The GoFundMe page describes Alexa as “a deeply affectionate young girl with a promising future,” tragically cut short in the accident.
According to DPS, the crash occurred as Estrada traveled north on Interstate 17 in Phoenix, near Peoria Avenue. The SUV overturned, leading to severe injuries for all occupants. Officials noted Alexa was forced to share a seat belt with a sibling while Estrada drove recklessly.
“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.”