At some point Ricardo Nuno Jr., Cardoza’s 4-year-old son, was ejected from the vehicle and killed upon impact. Cardoza was transported along with her 1-year-old son David to Ventura County Medical Center, where she was placed under arrest by the CHP for driving under the influence. Four people in the van, who tried to help Cardoza and her sons, also received minor injuries.Cardoza was critically injured and underwent surgery and a hospital stay. Her infant son David was treated for minor injuries.At the August 20 hearing, Cardoza’s attorney told the judge his client was devastated by the loss of her son and wanted to take full responsibility for her actions. Cardoza, who will be sentenced in September, could face a state prison term, but the court indicated her sentence might be less than a year in Ventura County Jail.
Highway 126: Fillmore woman pleads guilty to crash that killed son
August 26, 2009
Santa Paula News
A Fillmore woman whose 4-year-old son was thrown from her vehicle and died on Highway 126 pleaded guilty last week to vehicular manslaughter and drunken charges stemming from the crash, which occurred just hours after a Thanksgiving celebration.
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesA Fillmore woman whose 4-year-old son was thrown from her vehicle and died on Highway 126 pleaded guilty last week to vehicular manslaughter and drunken charges stemming from the crash, which occurred just hours after a Thanksgiving celebration. Lucia Cardoza, 24, pleaded guilty on August 19 to charges stemming from the crash that occurred Friday, November 28, 2008 at about 2:30 a.m.Cardoza was driving a 2005 Ford Focus eastbound on the highway just west of the 10th Street exit with her two young children riding in the backseat. Her vehicle swerved out of control across the traffic lanes and slammed into a metal guardrail, then it rotated back into traffic lanes and was struck by an eastbound van.
