Overview
- Ariel Perry Stewart, 21, appeared in court Monday after being charged with two counts of intoxication manslaughter tied to a deadly Oct. 17 crash.
- Investigators say her gray Tesla Model Y rear-ended a Nissan Sentra on eastbound I-10 near Taylor, causing the Sentra to hit a barrier and erupt in flames.
- Family members identified the victims as 22-year-old Bianca Romero and her boyfriend, Christian Rangel, and they were present in court to press for accountability.
- The Tesla’s passenger, described as a woman in her early 20s, was hospitalized and is expected to survive, according to police.
- All inbound lanes at the Taylor Street exit were closed for hours during the response and later reopened as the investigation and prosecution continue.