1 child dead, mother charged with homicide after crash

WORCESTER, Mass. (WHDH) -- Police said a Worcester mother was driving a car that crashed and killed her 3-year-old son.

Christina Castro pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges including motor vehicle homicide in connection with the crash. She was held on $50,000 bail.

Police said Castro may have been driving more than 70 miles per hour at about 10:15 p.m. Monday as she fled from a scene of a prior minor accident. Police said the driver of the car she allegedly hit tried to stop her, but she drove off.

“He attempted to communicate through the window that he had been hit and that she should stop and they should pass papers. And he reports that at that time, she left that scene and he was unable to follow her,” said Jeffrey Travers, prosecutor.

Castro then apparently struck one vehicle, plowed into a tow truck, lost control and slammed into another minivan. Surveillance cameras captured two men running out of an auto body shop to see what happened.

When police arrived at the scene, Castro, 27, was outside her vehicle with her 5-year-old son. Her 7-year-old son and 3-year-old son were trapped inside the car. First responders had to cut the roof off of the car to get to them. Police said the children were not properly restrained.

Castro’s attorney said she was not speeding, but slid because the road was wet. But police said from the video and the impact of the crash, she had to be driving at least 70 miles per hour in a 30 mile per hour zone.

The boys were taken to a hospital, where 3-year-old Jayden Figueroa was pronounced dead. The oldest son suffered critical injuries. Castro and the 5-year-old boy sustained minor injuries.

Castro’s family defended her, saying she is a good mother who made a horrible mistake.

“She loves her kids. And she would want to see and say her final goodbyes to her son. But some people have to pay for their consequences,” a family member said.

Castro’s attorney said she told him she would wear an ankle bracelet if the court would allow her to attend her son’s funeral. The court rejected the request.