PHOENIX — Brenda Rivera Estrada, 30, was indicted in connection with an April 12 crash on northbound Interstate 17 near Cactus Road in Phoenix that killed her nine-year-old daughter. The child was thrown from the vehicle during the rollover crash after sharing a seatbelt with a sibling.

Three other children in the SUV—an 11-year-old boy, a three-year-old boy, and a one-year-old girl—sustained minor injuries. Arizona Department of Public Safety troopers reported smelling marijuana at the scene and suspected Rivera Estrada had been impaired while driving. Toxicology results later showed she tested positive for both marijuana and methamphetamine.

A Maricopa County grand jury indicted Rivera Estrada on one count of manslaughter, three counts of endangerment, one count of possession or use of dangerous drugs, and one count of possession or use of drug paraphernalia. The manslaughter charge is classified as a Class Two Dangerous Felony. Rivera Estrada admitted in a court hearing that she smoked marijuana.

A prosecutor told Fox 10 Phoenix, “The suspect chose to get in a vehicle where she was allegedly under the influence of marijuana. Multiple witnesses stated that she was driving above the posted speed limit, which was 65.”

Rivera Estrada, a Mexican national, had initially been released from local custody before federal immigration authorities took her into custody on an immigration detainer while prosecutors awaited toxicology and crash reconstruction results. She entered the United States through Nogales, Arizona, in February 2009 as a nonimmigrant border crosser authorized to remain in the country for up to 30 days and remained beyond that period. Rivera Estrada was transported from ICE custody to the Maricopa County Jail following the indictment and is being held on a $250,000 cash bond. She remains in custody pending further court proceedings.