Perris, California - 8-Year-Old Girl Killed in Suspected DUI Crash on Ramona Expressway

Perris, California (August 15, 2026) - An 8-year-old girl died after a suspected DUI driver crashed into another vehicle at the intersection of Ramona Expressway and Rider Street, the Riverside County Sheriff's Department said.

Deputies were called to the crash at 5:36 p.m. on August 15, 2026. According to the department, deputies arriving on scene found five people injured, and one of the vehicles had caught fire. Firefighters put out the flames before paramedics took the injured to area hospitals.

The girl died of her injuries after reaching the hospital, the sheriff's department said. In a later update, the department said six people in total were taken to hospitals, four of them in critical condition.

Two days later, on August 17, deputies arrested a 52-year-old San Jacinto woman, Silvia Corona, on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and driving under the influence causing injury.

The sheriff's Perris station Traffic Reconstruction Team is investigating.

This is a developing story. Details may change as the investigation continues.

What to Do After a Fatal DUI Crash in California

Can our family pursue a civil claim before the criminal case is resolved?
Yes. A wrongful death claim moves on its own track, separate from the criminal prosecution. You don't have to wait for a conviction, and the standard of proof in civil court is lower than in a criminal trial.

What can a wrongful death claim cover?
California law allows surviving family members to recover for funeral and burial costs, the financial support and companionship the child would have provided, and the family's loss of love, comfort, and guidance.

Does the arrest settle fault for our case?
An arrest for gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated is a strong starting point, but it doesn't resolve fault on its own. An attorney gathers toxicology results, the crash reconstruction report, and witness accounts independently of the criminal case.

Should we talk to the other driver's insurance company?
Not before speaking with an attorney. Insurers often reach out early hoping for a recorded statement that limits what they eventually pay.

What is the filing deadline?
Wrongful death claims in California must generally be filed within two years of the date of death (CCP 377.60). For this crash, that deadline falls on August 15, 2028.

Contact Our Perris Wrongful Death Attorneys

Losing a child in a crash that never should have happened is a pain no family is prepared for, and the questions about why it happened deserve real answers.

The Law Offices of Christian Contreras has recovered a $5 million wrongful death settlement for a Southern California family and takes DUI wrongful death cases to trial when insurers won't offer a fair resolution. Our Perris wrongful death lawyers work directly from the sheriff's Traffic Reconstruction Team's findings so nothing gets lost between the criminal case and your family's claim.

Toxicology results, surveillance footage from nearby businesses, and the at-fault driver's insurance information are all easier to secure now than they will be months from now.

There's no cost to speak with us, and we don't charge a fee unless we recover for your family.

Why Injured Clients Trust Christian Contreras Law

• $200M+ recovered for clients
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Talk With Us When You're Ready at (866) 836-6588

Legal Disclaimer

This page is attorney advertising and is provided for general informational purposes only. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Incident information is based on publicly available reports and may change as the investigation continues. The Law Offices of Christian Contreras is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to any law enforcement or emergency response agency. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes, and no outcome is promised or implied.