What Happened?
On August 15, 2026, an 8-year-old girl was killed and five other people were injured in a fiery two-vehicle crash at the intersection of Ramona Expressway and Rider Street in Perris, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Office. Deputies from the Perris Sheriff's Station responded to the scene at around 5:36 p.m. and found two vehicles involved in a major-injury collision, with one of the vehicles on fire. Fire crews with Cal Fire and the Riverside County Fire Department extinguished the flames, and six occupants were transported to area hospitals, including four who were in critical condition.
The 8-year-old, identified by the Riverside County Sheriff's Coroner's Bureau as Camila Leon, a Perris resident, was pronounced deceased at the hospital. A second juvenile passenger remained hospitalized in critical condition. The Perris Sheriff's Station Traffic Reconstruction Team assumed the investigation and, on August 17, 2026, arrested Silvia Corona, a 52-year-old San Jacinto resident, on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and driving under the influence of alcohol causing injury.
If you or a loved one has been hurt in a vehicle crash in California, contact DC Law Group at (310) 571-8860 for a free consultation about your legal rights.
Why Are DUI-Related Crashes So Dangerous?
Crashes involving an impaired driver are especially destructive because impairment slows reaction time, impairs judgment, and reduces the driver's ability to control a vehicle at speed. At an intersection, a driver who runs a stop-controlled or signal-controlled crossing can strike a vehicle broadside, and the combined force of two moving vehicles produces catastrophic trauma for everyone inside. In this incident, the impact left one vehicle engulfed in flames, and fire can compound the danger by adding burn injuries to the blunt-force trauma of the collision itself.
The presence of children in a vehicle does not change the legal standard a driver must meet, but it sharply raises the stakes of a negligent act. Passengers of any age depend entirely on the driver to operate the vehicle safely, and a serious collision can leave young riders especially vulnerable to severe injuries because their bodies absorb the same impact forces with less protection. The outcome of this crash, in which a child died and another juvenile remained critically injured, illustrates how quickly an impaired-driving decision can devastate an entire family.
What Legal Options Exist After a Fatal DUI Crash?
Under California law, the family of a person killed in a collision caused by another driver's negligence may pursue a wrongful death claim for funeral and burial expenses, the value of the support and household services the deceased would have provided, loss of companionship, and other damages recognized under the law. Separately, a person who survives with serious injuries may have a personal injury claim for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses.
A criminal prosecution and a civil claim are separate proceedings. A charge such as gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated or driving under the influence causing injury addresses the driver's criminal culpability, while a civil case seeks financial recovery for the harm inflicted. Evidence developed by law enforcement, including the traffic reconstruction report, the results of any chemical testing, and witness statements, can be important to both. Because a defendant's conviction is not the same as compensation, running a parallel civil case with its own evidence-gathering is how families typically recover damages after a fatal crash.
The legal framework for wrongful death in California is set out in the Code of Civil Procedure. Section 377.60 identifies who may bring a wrongful death action, and Section 377.30 addresses the cause of action that survives the deceased's death. Families considering a claim should be mindful that California generally allows two years to file a wrongful death action, so acting promptly to preserve evidence and understand the applicable deadlines is important.
What Should a Family Do After a Loved One Is Killed in a Crash?
After a fatal collision, prompt action can protect a family's legal rights. It can help to request that any vehicles involved be preserved and inspected, obtain the official accident report once released, and seek traffic or surveillance footage from nearby businesses or intersections. Documenting the intersection, signal or stop-sign condition, lane markings, and time of day can also matter, particularly when the cause of the crash is still under investigation.
Families may also want to gather medical records, keep records of all expenses, and avoid making statements about fault before the investigation is complete. Because a drunk-driving collision can raise complex questions about who is financially responsible and what evidence will support a claim, consulting a personal injury attorney shortly after the incident can help a family understand which deadlines apply and how to preserve the evidence needed to pursue a recovery.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to file a wrongful death claim in California?
California generally allows two years to file a wrongful death action. Because certain claims against a government entity for a dangerous roadway condition may be subject to a much shorter deadline, consulting an attorney soon after a crash can help a family understand which limitations apply to their situation.
If a driver is arrested for DUI, does that prove negligence in a civil case?
Not by itself. A criminal charge requires proof beyond a reasonable doubt, while a civil claim uses a lower burden of proof based on the preponderance of the evidence. The facts that support a criminal case, including impairment and causation, can also support a civil negligence claim, but the two proceedings are decided independently.
Can a family recover damages if the driver lacked insurance?
Potentially. If the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured, a family may be able to rely on uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage on their own auto policy, depending on the terms of the policy. An attorney can help a family review available coverage and identify all sources of recovery.
Summary
An 8-year-old girl, Camila Leon of Perris, was killed and several others were injured in a fiery two-vehicle crash at Ramona Expressway and Rider Street in Perris on August 15, 2026, and a suspect was later arrested on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and driving under the influence causing injury. The collision, which left one vehicle in flames and a second juvenile hospitalized in critical condition, is under investigation by the Perris Sheriff's Station Traffic Reconstruction Team. Families affected by fatal and drunk-driving crashes may have legal options that a personal injury attorney can help them understand, and acting promptly to preserve evidence is important.
REQUEST A FREE CONSULTATION