Man Convicted Of Murder Of Mom, Baby In Livermore DUI Collision

LIVERMORE. CA — A Livermore man was convicted of two counts of second-degree murder on Monday for the deaths of a mother and her baby in a DUI crash in Livermore in 2015. Prosecutors and police investigators said Livermore resident Brian Jones, 39, lost control of his 2014 Corvette while driving under the influence of alcohol and crashed into an apartment complex in the 900 block of Murrieta Boulevard just before 6:50 p.m. on May 2, 2015.

The collision killed 46-year-old Esperanza Morales-Rodriguez of Seaside and her 14-month-old daughter, Yulidia Perez-Morales, both of whom were declared dead at the scene. Police said debris from the crash also struck two boys ages 6 and 7, who were taken to a hospital for treatment.

Police said Jones, who attended the the Livermore Wine Country Festival earlier in the day, was going 99 mph on residential streets moments before the horrific crash. Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O'Malley said his blood alcohol content was determined to be 0.14 percent, well above the legal limit for drinking and driving.

Morales-Rodriguez and her daughter were visiting family to celebrate a first communion and a birthday at the time of the deadly crash. A GoFundMe page for the victims was established following the crash.

At the time of the arrest, Livermore police Officer David Boyes wrote in a probable cause statement that Jones had a prior arrest for allegedly driving while intoxicated and pleaded to a reckless driving charge in that case.

Booking photo via Livermore Police

Photo 2 courtesy GoFundMe