Oakdale mother charged with murder in DUI crash that killed daughter

Juliette Marie Acosta, a 26-year-old mother from Oakdale, was arrested on a murder charge after a suspected DUI crash on March 8 led to the death of her 4-year-old daughter, Reagan Herrin. Initially charged with felony drunk driving, Acosta was re-arrested at a San Francisco hotel after attempting to flee, aided by her father, Clifford Acosta Jr., who was also detained. The crash occurred when Acosta's SUV plunged into a canal near Hickman, leaving her daughter trapped in the car seat while she escaped uninjured. Her attorney refutes claims of an attempted escape, stating that Acosta was on a business trip and planned to surrender voluntarily. A GoFundMe campaign was launched to support Reagan's father, raising more than $22,000. The district attorney's office and California Highway Patrol are continuing the investigation.