Crime
Mother Brenda Estrada jailed after rollover crash along I-17 near Peoria Avenue leaves 9-year-old Alexa Rivera dead
A tragic rollover crash on Interstate 17 in north Phoenix has left a 9-year-old girl dead and led to the arrest of her mother on multiple felony charges, authorities confirmed.
The crash occurred at approximately 7:30 a.m. on April 12 along the northbound lanes of I-17 near Peoria Avenue. According to the Arizona Department of Public Safety, the incident involved a single vehicle carrying a mother and her children.
Investigators identified the victim as 9-year-old Alexa Cortez Rivera, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities reported that the child was sharing a seat belt with a sibling at the time of the crash and was ejected from the vehicle during the rollover.
Three other children—a 1-year-old girl, a 3-year-old boy, and an 11-year-old boy—were also inside the vehicle. All three sustained injuries and were transported to a nearby hospital, where they were treated and later released.
The driver, 30-year-old Brenda Liliana Rivera Estrada of Phoenix, was also injured in the crash and taken to the hospital. Following her release, she was taken into custody and booked into jail.
According to investigators, Estrada is accused of driving recklessly and at high speeds while passing other vehicles prior to the crash. During the investigation, troopers reported detecting the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. In court proceedings, officials stated that Estrada admitted to using marijuana the previous day.
Prosecutors expressed serious concern for the safety of the surviving children, alleging that the defendant chose to operate a vehicle while impaired.
Witnesses also reported that the vehicle was traveling above the posted speed limit of 65 mph.
Estrada is now facing charges including manslaughter and child abuse. She is currently being held on a $100,000 bond.
The crash prompted the temporary closure of northbound Interstate 17 for several hours as authorities conducted their investigation.
The case remains ongoing.
Crime
24-Year-Old Jose Alfredo Soto Navarrete Jr Dies in Fatal Jeep Incident in Midland, Christian Rojelio Zubia Arrested
MIDLAND, Texas — Jose Alfredo Soto Navarrete Jr., a 24-year-old man from Odessa, died after an incident involving a Jeep Wrangler in Midland on Thursday night, October 8, 2026. The driver, a 30-year-old Odessa man, was later arrested and charged with manslaughter, according to the Midland Police Department.
Police said officers responded at approximately 10:46 p.m. Thursday to a reported crash involving a 2018 Jeep Wrangler and a pedestrian in the 1700 block of Rankin Highway.
During the preliminary investigation, witnesses told authorities that Soto Navarrete had jumped onto the hood of a black Jeep Wrangler. Investigators allege that the driver accelerated while turning southbound, causing Soto Navarrete to fall from the vehicle and sustain fatal injuries.
Authorities identified the driver as Christian Rojelio Zubia, 30, of Odessa.
According to police, Zubia left the scene after the incident. Officers later located him with assistance from the Odessa Police Department.
Zubia was arrested and charged with manslaughter in connection with Soto Navarrete’s death. The charge is an allegation, and the case will proceed through the legal system.
The Midland Police Department is continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the fatal incident, including the events leading up to Soto Navarrete’s fall from the Jeep.
Authorities have not released further details about what prompted the encounter or whether additional charges may be considered.
Police confirmed that Soto Navarrete’s next of kin has been notified of his death.
Soto Navarrete’s death has left his family and loved ones grieving. His passing serves as a heartbreaking reminder of how quickly a dangerous incident can result in a fatal outcome.
The investigation remains ongoing, and additional information may be released as authorities continue reviewing the case.