Mesilla Park
VADO, New Mexico — A 33-year-old woman from Mesilla Park is facing multiple felony charges after a deadly crash in Vado that claimed the lives of two children, including her own daughter.
According to New Mexico State Police, Christina Escobedo Arriaga was driving a 2007 purple Dodge Charger southbound on Highway 478 around 6:50 p.m. Sunday when the vehicle veered off the road. The car struck a light pole, a chain-link fence, and a tree before coming to a stop in the front yard of a residence.
Three juveniles were in the vehicle at the time. A 15-year-old passenger was hospitalized with injuries. The other two passengers, ages 15 and 12, were pronounced dead at the scene. Officials confirmed the 12-year-old was Arriaga’s daughter.
Investigators say alcohol and improper seatbelt use were contributing factors in the crash. Surveillance footage from a nearby home reportedly captured the moments leading up to the collision.
Arriaga was hospitalized in Las Cruces before being booked into the Doña Ana County Detention Center. She faces several charges, including:
- Two counts of Homicide by Vehicle (DWI)
- One count of Great Bodily Harm by Vehicle (DWI)
- Two counts of Intentional Child Abuse Resulting in Death
- One count of Child Abuse Resulting in Great Bodily Harm
- One count of Driving While Under the Influence
Magistrate Judge Robert Lara granted Arriaga release from jail, though she remained in custody as of Tuesday afternoon. The District Attorney’s Office stated that under New Mexico law, pretrial release is standard unless the state can prove that no conditions would ensure public safety or court appearance. Arriaga’s lack of prior criminal history played a role in the decision.
The crash remains under investigation.
