REPEAT Drunk Driver SLAUGHTERS Six Workers

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A repeat drunk driver with three prior DUI convictions was charged with murder after killing six hardworking farmworkers in a devastating crash, exposing California’s failed probation system that let a dangerous criminal back on the streets.

Story Highlights

Norberto Celerino faces murder charges after killing six farmworkers while driving drunk with three prior DUI convictions
The 53-year-old was on probation for a 2024 DUI and recently released from custody on domestic violence charges
Prosecutors are pursuing rare “Watson murder” charges, typically reserved for the most egregious repeat DUI offenses
All six victims were Mexican farmworkers from Stockton, highlighting the vulnerability of migrant labor communities

Failed System Enables Deadly Driver

Norberto Celerino’s criminal history reads like a warning ignored by California’s broken justice system. The 53-year-old had DUI convictions in 2010, 2020, and 2024, yet remained free on probation when he drove drunk on September 7, 2025, crashing his Toyota Sienna into a tree on Pope Valley Road. Six innocent farmworkers died at the scene while Celerino and one passenger survived with major injuries. This tragedy exposes how lenient probation oversight fails to protect law-abiding citizens from repeat offenders.

Murder Charges Signal Prosecutorial Shift

Napa County prosecutors charged Celerino with six counts of murder, six counts of gross vehicular manslaughter, and felony DUI under California’s “Watson murder” precedent. This rare legal application requires proof of implied malice, established when drunk drivers with prior convictions demonstrate conscious disregard for human life. The 1981 California Supreme Court ruling enables murder charges against repeat DUI offenders who continue driving intoxicated despite knowing the deadly consequences. This aggressive prosecution sends a message that repeat offenders will face the full weight of the law.

Hardworking Victims Pay Ultimate Price

The six victims were all farmworkers from Stockton traveling to agricultural jobs in Napa County when Celerino’s reckless actions ended their lives. These men worked in America’s fields to support their families, embodying the work ethic and determination that built this nation. Their deaths highlight the vulnerability of workers who depend on shared transportation to reach remote job sites. Community fundraisers have mobilized to support the victims’ families, who face both emotional devastation and financial hardship after losing their primary breadwinners.

Systemic Failures Demand Reform

Celerino was released from custody on domestic violence charges just days before the fatal crash, revealing dangerous gaps in California’s criminal justice system. His three DUI convictions and active probation status should have triggered intensive monitoring and restrictions. Instead, the system’s failure to adequately supervise this repeat offender enabled a preventable tragedy. This case demands immediate reforms to probation oversight, mandatory ignition interlock devices for all DUI offenders, and stricter penalties for repeat violations that protect innocent Americans from dangerous criminals.

The Napa County crash serves as a stark reminder that California’s lenient approach to repeat offenders costs innocent lives. While prosecutors pursue justice through murder charges, systemic reforms must prevent future tragedies by keeping dangerous drivers off our roads and holding the justice system accountable for protecting law-abiding citizens.