Luz Maria Amado Basilio also died after car veered off Rindge Road into White Slough; alcohol suspected in crash
SAN JOAQUIN, CA, (August 04, 2025) - Two people lost their lives in a suspected drunk-driving crash in the Delta area of San Joaquin County on Aug. 4.
Esteban Alcantara Gerardo and Luz Maria Amado Basilio were tragically killed in a crash involving an alleged drunk driver on Aug. 4 in the Delta area of San Joaquin County.
The California Highway Patrol reported that 45-year-old Esteban Alcantara Gerardo and 21-year-old Luz Maria Amado Basilio were passengers in a Dodge Charger driven by a 20-year-old man. Around 4 a.m., the vehicle veered off Rindge Road and plunged into White Slough.
A San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office dive team recovered Gerardo and Basilio from the water. Tragically, both were pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities believe alcohol played a role in the crash, which remains under investigation.
DWI CRASH INVESTIGATION
Sadly, thousands die in preventable drunk driving crashes each year in the United States.
The consumption of alcohol impairs reaction time, judgment, and motor skills, making driving unsafe. In 2022, 21 percent of drivers in fatal accidents in California had known Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) results.
Candice Bond, an experienced DUI accident attorney, was interviewed and provided her thoughts on such incidents.
“Separate from criminal charges, a victim’s family may be entitled to compensation through a civil lawsuit against the responsible party,” said Bond, Managing Partner of Bond Legal and a national analyst for The Legal Advocate. “Serving as an advocate, an attorney can help compassionately guide grieving families during this difficult time, protecting their legal rights while ensuring that drunk drivers are held accountable for their reckless actions.”
WRONGFUL DEATH CLAIM
The families of Esteban Alcantara Gerardo and Luz Maria Amado Basilio may have the right to pursue a wrongful death claim. Such claims can provide compensation for loss of companionship, emotional distress, pain and suffering, and other damages following a tragic or catastrophic accident.
“We understand the immense grief that families endure, and protecting their rights is essential,” said Candice Bond, Managing Partner at Bond Legal. “A wrongful death attorney will closely monitor the investigation and work tirelessly to ensure the family’s best interests are upheld. Loved ones deserve justice and fair compensation for the profound loss they have suffered.”
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).
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