NAPA COUNTY, Calif. — A tragic accident in Napa County on Sunday evening claimed the lives of six men and left two others severely injured, raising concerns about road safety and repeat offenders. The driver, 53-year-old Norberto Celerino from Stockton, is reportedly facing multiple charges including six counts of murder for his role in the crash.
The incident occurred shortly before 6 p.m. on Pope Valley Road, where a vehicle carrying eight men veered off the road and struck a tree. First responders arrived at the scene to find that six individuals had died, while Celerino and one other passenger were transported to a local hospital with critical injuries.
Among the deceased are 42-year-old Loreto Ricardo Hernandez and 34-year-old Fernando Silverio, both believed to be from Stockton and likely employed as farmworkers in the area. The Napa County Sheriff’s Office has indicated that all six victims are thought to have lived in or near Stockton, highlighting a deep community connection among those affected by the tragedy.
Celerino’s troubling history includes two prior DUI convictions from 2020 and 2024, along with an additional conviction over a decade ago. Given this background, he faces severe legal repercussions. Alongside the murder charges, he is also being charged with six counts of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and a felony count for DUI causing injuries to multiple people.
In this case, California law allows for murder charges in DUI incidents, particularly for drivers with prior convictions. Such infractions elevate the severity of the legal consequences, potentially leading to additional counts that reflect the nature of the driving behavior and the emotional impact on victims’ families.
The District Attorney’s Office has detailed several special allegations against Celerino, which include causing great bodily injury with a motor vehicle, demonstrating cruelty or callousness, and showing a pattern of increasingly serious offenses. Furthermore, Celerino was on probation for previous offenses when the crash occurred, complicating his legal situation.
As Celerino receives treatment for his injuries, officials have postponed his arraignment. The ongoing investigations aim to uncover more about the circumstances leading up to the crash and to ensure justice is served for the victims and their families. Community members are likely to feel the impact of this incident deeply, as it touches on issues of public safety and the consequences of impaired driving.