Father Cited in Drunk Driving Crash that Killed Son

Date: April 3, 2010
Location: Highway 95 near Jordan Valley, Oregon
Names: Gerado Martinez, Ana Maria Martinez, Julio Aquino, Julitca Martinez, Rigoberto Martinez-Perez, [Unknown]

A father has been cited for driving under the influence of alcohol, and may face additional charges, after an April 3, 2010 crash killed his 9-year-old son and injured five others, including four family members, Oregon State Police reported in a press release.

State police said the crash occurred around 5:30 PM on Highway 95 near Jordan Valley, Oregon. Rigoberto Martinez-Perez, 33, of Nampa, Idaho, was speeding north when his vehicle went off the right shoulder. The driver overcorrected and lost control, rolled several times and went off a 40-foot embankment, coming to rest at the bottom of a ravine.

His son, Gerado Martinez, age 9, was taken to St. Alphonsus Medical Center in Boise, Idaho, where he was pronounced dead.

Ana Maria Martinez, 33, his wife, suffered injuries. Two children, Julio Aquino, 5, and Julitca Martinez, 5, also received injuries. An unidentified female passenger, who was riding in the left rear seat, was critically injured. All were transported to St. Alphonsus Medical Center.

The driver, Martinez-Perez, was injured, and was taken to West Valley Hospital in Caldwell, Idaho, where troopers cited him for driving under the influence (DUI). Additional charges may be filed.

We send our thoughts and prayers to everyone involved in this tragic crash, with special wishes to the children, Julio and Julitca. Losing a child is one of the saddest things that can happen to anyone, especially when it could have been prevented by not drinking and driving. Our hearts go out to you.

It is important to understand what to do after you’ve been involved in a crash where alcohol is a factor. We hope you will never need this information, of course, but you may want to check out our fact sheet or this informative Oregon DUI accident video. We encourage people to educate themselves on the law of drunk driving in Oregon, and we provide free information to help you settle your lawsuit without an attorney. But when a drunk driver is involved, the law becomes very tricky, and you should contact an experienced Portland injury attorney.