Stockton parents could face criminal charges for fatal accident involving young children, local prosecutor says

STOCKTON – A Stockton family is mourning the loss of 11-year-old Queen Marie Norwood, known to her loved ones as Queenie, when a car full of children under the age of 18 crashed into a tree.

It happened around 7:45 a.m. Sunday in the 5800 block of North El Dorado Street. None of the car’s occupants were of legal age.

“She was really smart, intelligent, outgoing and kept to herself,” said Lakeisha Bridges, a relative of Queenie. “She was a beautiful little girl who didn’t deserve to lose her life at such a young age.”

According to police, the six children in the car were between the ages of 11 and 15 and were going for a joyride.

“I just woke up and heard a loud bang,” said a neighbor who lives just a few meters from the crash site through the screen of his front door. He wanted to remain anonymous.

He said if it weren’t for the tree, the car probably would have crashed into the house where he and his grandmother lived. He is grateful that didn’t happen, but expressed his condolences.

The grieving family released pink balloons into the sky on Sunday, but investigators still have to answer difficult questions, including whether the parents will face charges for the incident.

“If they allowed them to use the vehicle, yes,” said Sacramento-area attorney Mark Reichel. “If they didn’t, but were negligent and didn’t give the children access to the car keys, then it’s a pretty tough case.”

Reichel said the parents could face charges of gross negligence and child endangerment, which could result in a prison sentence of up to three years if convicted.

He also said the five children who survived the crash could face prison sentences.

“If you take a car and go for a drive, you’ll be charged all the time in juvenile detention,” he said.

Stockton police said the children came from five different families.

The grief is felt throughout the Stockton community, including at the school where Queen was a student, McKinley Elementary. Stockton Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Michelle Rodriguez gave us this statement:

“We deeply regret the tragic accident that occurred this weekend. Anytime we lose a student, it impacts the entire SUSD community. We are offering counseling and support to our students and staff. Please join us in wishing the family peace and comfort during this difficult time.”

Stockton police said they could not rule out that speeding, not wearing a seatbelt, inattentive driving or driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs were considered factors in the accident.

The other five children were taken to a nearby hospital. Family members said some suffered broken bones but all are expected to survive.

“It was a very tragic incident,” Bridges said of Queen. “It just happened out of nowhere. It should never have happened to her.”