Man Sentenced For Crash That Killed 14-Year-Old Girl In Novato: DA

NOVATO, CA — A 19-year-old Novato man was sentenced to two years in prison Wednesday after being convicted of vehicular manslaughter in a crash that resulted in the death of 14-year-old Emanuely Da Silva Souza.

The sentencing concluded a case stemming from an August 2025 incident.

According to police reports, on August 13, 2025, Cristofer Alexander Larreinaga Corea, then 18, took over driving a white Ford Edge SUV from a 15-year-old companion, prosecutors said.

He was reportedly speeding at over 70 mph and ran multiple stop signs before losing control and striking a tree on Ignacio Boulevard, police said.

Larreinaga Corea fled the scene immediately, leaving his two injured passengers behind, police said.

Both passengers were rushed to local hospitals. The 14-year-old victim, Larkspur resident Da Silva Souza, sustained critical injuries and died the following day at an Oakland trauma center, officials said. The other passenger, a 15-year-old boy, suffered significant injuries but was reported to be in stable condition and was later released from the hospital.

Larreinaga Corea was arrested by Novato Police officers on suspicion of child endangerment and hit-and-run causing injury, police said.

He was later arraigned in Marin County Superior Court on charges including child endangerment resulting in serious injury or death, felony reckless driving, and hit and run collision resulting in serious injury or death.

As part of a plea deal, the prosecution ultimately dismissed additional charges of hit-and-run and reckless driving.

He was held in custody at the Marin County Jail with a bail set at $500,000.