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A woman who pleaded guilty to entering a restricted building during the January 6 Capitol riot has now been implicated in a fatal car crash in Missouri.
Emily Hernandez has been charged with driving while intoxicated involving the death of another and DWI involving serious physical injuries stemming from a car crash that occurred on January 5, nearly the one-year anniversary of the Capitol riots. She is accused of going the wrong way while on the interstate, with local news station KSDK-TV reporting that she allegedly had a blood alcohol content level of 0.2 percent, which is more than two times Missouri's legal limit.
Prosecutors say that Hernandez crashed into a car occupied by Ryan and Victoria Wilson. Victoria, a mother of two who the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported worked as a home health care aide for disabled children and adults, died in the crash, while Ryan sustained serious injuries. According to a GoFundMe page set up to support the family, he is expected to recover.
The accusations against Hernandez come amid a renewed focus on the January 6 riot, with a judge ruling on Monday that former President Donald Trump "more likely than not" committed a felony in trying to obstruct Congress in connection to the riot. Also, a growing number of legal experts and lawmakers believe Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas should recuse himself from judicial decisions related to the events of January 6 after revelations last week about his wife Virginia Thomas' text messages with former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows.
At the time of the Missouri crash, Hernandez's attorney, Ethan Corlija, did not comment on the accusations from law enforcement, stating that it was an ongoing investigation, according to KMOV-TV.
"The exact circumstances of the accident are unclear," he told KMOV at the time. "It's unfortunate. I am heartbroken for the others involved."
KSDK reported that the Missouri State Highway Patrol had requested in January that charges be filed against Hernandez after the crash occurred, but the local county prosecutor waited for results from blood tests.
She was previously charged with five counts in connection to the January 6 Capitol riots before ultimately pleading guilty to one charge of entering a restricted building, KSDK added.
Hernandez also admitted to stealing a piece of a broken sign belonging to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, according to the Associated Press.
Hernandez is scheduled to be sentenced for her January 6 charge on April 11. She could face up to a year in prison, although guidelines recommend up to six months, according to KSDK.
Newsweek reached out to Corlija for comment but did not receive a response by publication time.
Update at 3/28/22, 5:40 p.m. ET: This story has been updated with additional information.
