Woman enters plea in alleged Fresno drunk driving crash that killed two living in tents
Erica Jones, the 39-year-old woman accused of killing two people while driving drunk and trying to evade police, pleaded not guilty Tuesday to multiple charges related to the April 24 crash in central Fresno.
Jones began to cry as Judge Mark Cullers set her bail at $3.8 million.
In addition to being charged with two counts of murder, Jones faces a total of 13 charges, including two counts of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, two counts of evading an officer while causing death, driving under the influence of alcohol while causing injury and child abuse and endangerment.
If convicted on all counts, Jones faces a maximum of 37-years-to-life in prison.
Police said the crash happened at about 1:35 a.m. near Highway 41 and Ashlan Avenue. Jones was trying to get away from Fresno County Sheriff’s deputies who had tried pulling her over earlier. The deputies broke off the chase, but a few minutes later, Jones crashed into a pair of tents, killing the occupants, Brianna Britten, 30, and Kathy Esqueda, 61.
Both women were taken to Community Regional Medical Center where Britten died soon after and Esqueda died a week later.
Witnesses told police they saw a woman, identified later as Jones, run from the crash with a boy in tow. Officers found Jones and the boy near Ashlan and Blackstone avenues.
Prosecutor Steven Ueltzen explained that Jones is charged with murder because she has a DUI conviction from 2019.
At the time, she was warned by a judge that if she drove drunk again and someone died as a result, she would be charged with murder.
Jones’ lawyer Eric Castelllon said his client is extremely remorseful for what happened. Castellon said Jones worked as a medical assistant.
“She comes from a good family that loves her,” Castellon said. “She is not the person I thought I was going to be meeting. This is a sad state of affairs for both sides.”
Jones’ next court hearing is May 30 in Department 11.
