South Bay Mother Pleads Guilty to Manslaughter

The mother accused gross vehicular manslaughter following the death of two children pleaded guilty on Thursday.

In August 2012, Arlene Hernandez's car rolled into Otay Reservoir killing two children in the backseat. The 22-year-old  was driving a Kia Sorento eastbound on Otay Lakes Road around 6 p.m. when she lost control near Wueste Road, veered off the side of the road and into the water, according to the California Highway Patrol.

There were three passengers: Her daughter, a 31-year-old male passenger and his daughter. Hernandez and the male passenger managed to escape the car, but the two girls drowned as they were trapped under water.

Hernandez appeared in court Thursday to plead guilty to six felonies, including vehicular manslaughter and driving drunk, in addition to two misdemeanors. She will be sentenced on May 31.

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