A mother was charged with felony DUI and child abuse Wednesday after a Rancho Bernardo crash left her three children injured, according to the San Diego County District Attorney’s office.
Mayra Troncoso, 29, was taken to Palomar Hospital after the wreck in early November, where she is still receiving treatment.
The arraignment took place at the Escondido hospital. An NBC 7's Dave Summers was the only reporter allowed in the room during the proceedings.
There, Troncoso was charged with three counts of felony child abuse, two of which alleged great bodily injured occurred, said Deputy District Attorney Ramona McCarthy.
She was also charged with driving under the influence causing injury and driving on a suspended license, McCarthy said.
She was mostly covered by a blanket as she laid in her hospital bed and had no visible injuries to her face. She appeared expressionless throughout until it was over and she started sobbing as she sat alone with her attorney.
Her license was suspended after a 2017 DUI conviction and she was on probation when the crash happened, according to McCarthy.
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In both DUI cases, Troncoso had a blood alcohol concentration of more than 0.20, McCarthy said.
Troncoso drove into oncoming traffic on Camino Del Norte and collided head-on into a Jeep Liberty on Nov. 12, according to the San Diego Police Department.
She was arrested three days later.
Troncoso’s nine-month-old baby, who was being held by an 8-year-old girl at the time of the crash, suffered life-threatening injuries.
CHP investigators said the force from the crash threw the infant into the windshield.
The nine-month-old is in critical condition, according to the deputy district attorney.
“Children are one of the most vulnerable victims,” McCarthy said.
A criminal protective order now prevents Troncoso from contacting her children in any way.
It was “for the safety of the children. We are very concerned for them,” according to McCarthy.
Judge set bail at $700,000.
Troncoso faces up to 24 years in prison if convicted.
A preliminary hearing was set for Dec. 4.
