Six Napa County Farmworkers Killed in Crash, DUI Suspect Taken Into Custody
NAPA, CA, (September 07, 2025) - A suspected DUI crash in Napa County claimed the lives of six farmworkers from Stockton Sunday evening. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) reported the accident occurred around 6 p.m. on Pope Valley Road, north of Howell Mountain Road.
Araon Ruiz and Beymar Reynosa Rodriguez were two of six people who died Sunday evening in a single-vehicle crash on Pope Valley Road in Napa County.
The CHP said a Toyota Sienna XLE carrying several passengers ran off the roadway for unknown reasons and collided with a tree. Six passengers were killed, while the driver and another occupant were seriously injured and airlifted to nearby trauma centers.
Authorities have identified two of the victims as 39-year-old Araon Ruiz and 32-year-old Beymar Reynosa Rodriguez.
The suspected driver, a 53-year-old Stockton resident, has a significant criminal history and was recently charged in a domestic violence case. He faces six felony counts of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.
CHP officials confirmed that the investigation into the crash is still ongoing.
CRASH INVESTIGATION NEEDED
Drunk driving isn't just reckless—it's deadly, claiming 34 lives daily in the United States. All those deaths are preventable. In 2023, 12,429 people died in alcohol-impaired driving traffic deaths, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA).
An independent investigation will be required to learn other potential factors in the case, including the results of a test or tests to determine the blood-alcohol content levels of the driver.
Candice Bond, an experienced DUI accident attorney, was interviewed and provided her thoughts on incidents such as this one.
“Serving as an advocate, an attorney can help compassionately guide a victim during this difficult time, protecting their legal rights while ensuring that drunk drivers are held accountable for their reckless actions,” said Bond, Managing Partner of Bond Legal.
WRONGFUL DEATH CLAIM
Pending the results of the investigation, the families of Araon Ruiz and Beymar Reynosa Rodriguez may be entitled to pursue a wrongful death claim. Such a claim could cover medical and funeral expenses, loss of love and companionship, pain and suffering, and emotional trauma.
“An incident is considered a wrongful death when a person’s death results from the wrongful or negligent actions of another,” said Candice Bond, Managing Partner with Bond Legal.
“In cases where vehicle fatalities occur due to unsafe driving, aggressive or distracted behavior, speeding, or driving under the influence, family members often have the option to file a civil claim against the responsible driver.”
If you’ve been injured or lost a loved one due to a drunk driver, national legal analyst Candice Bond offers free consultations to guide you.
(Candice Bond, our national legal analyst, is a Managing Partner at Bond Legal. Newsline can and does use quotes from prior interviews with our analysts for our news articles. If you would like to contact Bond Legal to help you, please call 866-985-6515 or use the submission box found on this page. Legal analysts quoted may or may not be licensed in your state).