A Capitol riot defendant out on bond was involved in a fatal car accident on Wednesday night in Missouri killing a young mother and seriously injured her husband.
According to Missouri State Highway Police, Emily Hernandez, 22, was drunk and driving the wrong way on a highway in Franklin, Missouri, about 7 p.m Wednesday evening and hit a Buick SUV traveling in the opposite direction.
A passenger in the car Hernandez hit died in the crash. She was identified as 32-year-old Victoria N. Wilson.
Both Hernandez and the driver of the car, Wilson’s husband, were seriously injured and hospitalized, the St Louis Post Dispatch reports.
Wilson was the mother of two boys, ages 15 and 10. She was also a healthcare aide that worked primarily with disabled people, including children. Her husband was a stay-at-home dad who homeschooled their boys during the COVID outbreak.
The couple was returning from their wedding anniversary celebration at the time of the crash, according to Insider.
Hernandez was charged on Wednesday night with two felonies: driving while intoxicated resulting in death, and driving while intoxicated resulting in injury.
There is no mugshot available because she was hospitalized at the time. Her attorney told Insider that she underwent surgery and the incident is out of character for her.
“She is very very distraught in having been involved in a situation where someone was harmed and lost a life,” her attorney said. “Her heart pours out to Wilson’s family and loved one who’s mourning a loss of life.”
Hernandez was seen in photos on Jan. 6 holding a piece of a broken sign from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office.
She is facing five misdemeanors charges in relation to the Capitol insurrection, including knowingly entering a restricted building without authority, demonstrating in the Capitol, stealing, and knowingly engaging in disorderly conduct in a restricted building with intent to impede the government.
She was placed on a personal recognizance bond in February 2021. Hernandez plans to plead guilty to a single misdemeanor charge connected to the Capitol riot on Monday her attorney said.
