NEED TO KNOW
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A man with a history of DUI convictions is accused of killing six people while driving drunk in California’s Napa County over the weekend
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Norberto Celerino, 53, of Stockton, was behind the wheel of a car when he crashed into a tree and killed six passengers on Sept. 7, authorities claim. He also injured himself and one other person
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Celerino has yet to be arraigned
A man with a history of DUI convictions is accused of killing six people while driving drunk in California’s Napa County over the weekend.
Norberto Celerino, 53, of Stockton, has been charged with six counts of murder and six counts of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, among other criminal offenses, in connection with the fatal crash, the Napa County District Attorney’s Office said in a press release on Sept. 9.
On Sept. 7, Celerino was behind the wheel of a car when he crashed into a tree along Pope Valley Road, killing six passengers and leaving himself and one other person severely injured, per the release. Prosecutors allege Celerino was under the influence of alcohol at the time.
Celerino and the surviving passenger were taken to local hospitals, where they continue to receive treatment for their injuries, prosecutors said. He was then arrested on suspicion of DUI and booked into the Napa County Department of Corrections.
According to a statement from the Napa County Sheriff’s Office, the coroner identified the victims killed as Stockton area residents: Aaron Ruiz Ruiz, 39, Beymar Reynosa Rodriguez, 32, Demetrio Celerino Francisco, 39, Pedro Lopez Gomez, 57, Loreto Ricardo Hernandez, 42, and Fernando Silverio, 34.
Prosecutors said Celerino has two previous DUI convictions in San Joaquin County — one in August 2020 and another in September 2024. “Celerino also has a third DUI conviction on his record that was not included in today’s complaint as it is older than 10 years and cannot statutorily be used to enhance the current charges,” the release states.
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Celerino, who also goes by the names Norberto “Beto” Celerino Villalva, Grabien Martinez, and Roberto Savaringo-Diabla, is also facing a felony charge of DUI causing injury with two or more prior DUI convictions, per the release. Multiple special allegations are also included in the complaint, including great bodily injury and that he was on probation at the time.
Celerino has yet to be arraigned as he remains hospitalized, prosecutors said.
Read the original article on People
