Mother took a bath after leaving daughter in submerged car (2025)

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A young mother allegedly left her toddler daughter to drown in her upturned car after she drunkenly crashed it into a canal before fleeing and having a bath.

Juliette Acosta, 26, is charged with murder among other counts after her daughter Reagan Herrin, 4, was killed on March 8.

Police alleged she was swerving her Subaru SUV all over the road, sideswiping a pole then driving up an embankment and into the irrigation canal about 11pm.

Her uncle heard the crash in Hickman, near Modesto, California, and rescued Acosta from the car but wasn't able to get the little girl, who was trapped in her car seat.

Acosta fled the scene and went to a hotel room, where she was found 'taking a bath' while her 'daughter remained in peril at the crash scene', police alleged.

Reagan was eventually pulled from the car by a California Highway Patrol officer with help from Acosta's uncle, who had clambered on to of the car.

She was rushed toMemorial Medical Center in Modesto but did not survive.

Acosta was initially charged with felony DUI after she allegedly was found to be three times over the blood alcohol limit, and released on bail.

She is now also charged with murder, vehicular manslaughter, driving under the influence of alcohol causing injury, and permitting a child to suffer under circumstances likely to cause great bodily injury or death.

Acosta was re-arrested and is being held without bail. She faces life in prison if convicted of all charges.

Her fatherClifford Acosta was detained on suspicion of aiding her after the fact.

Family and friends of Reagan's father Gage Herrin set up a fundraiser for her funeral expenses, making it bluntly clear it was 'in no way affiliated with the Acosta family'.

'Any remaining money that has been donated after expenses will be donated back to the community on Reagan's behalf in hopes to prevent incidents like this from happening in the future,' it read.

Acosta's motherKari Hicks Acosta shared her excitement in 2020 in the leadup to the birth of Reagan- who would be her first grandchild.

She posted a photo of her four daughters with Acosta heavily pregnant, and replied to a friend remarking that the next photo would have five girls instead.

'She’s due July fifth but we’re pretty certain she’ll deliver early. We are so excited!' Kari replied.

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