By Colin Atagi | [email protected] | The Press Democrat
Two Stockton farmworkers — Loreto Ricardo Hernandez, 42, and Fernando Silverio, 34 — were among the six people killed in a Pope Valley crash Sunday night that prosecutors say was caused by a drunk driver now facing murder charges.
The Napa County Sheriff’s Office released the names Tuesday, hours after Napa County prosecutors charged Norberto (Beto) Celerino, 53, with six counts each of murder and gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. He also faces a DUI charge with enhanced penalties because a seventh person was injured.
Celerino — who also uses the names Norberto Celerino Villalva, Grabien Martinez and Roberto Savaringo-Diabla — suffered major injuries and remained hospitalized Tuesday at Providence Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa. His arraignment is scheduled for Wednesday.
The crash was reported about 5:50 p.m. Sunday along Pope Valley Road north of Howell Mountain Road. Investigators said Celerino was driving a Toyota Sienna XLE northbound when he veered off the two-lane road and slammed into a tree. Six passengers were pronounced dead at the scene.
The Napa County Sheriff’s Office said the other four victims were also farmworkers from Stockton. Officials are still working to notify their families.
Court records reviewed by The Press Democrat show Celerino has three DUI convictions — in 2010, 2020 and 2024. Prosecutors said the 2010 case is too old to be used to enhance the current charges.
In October 2024, he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor DUI with a high blood alcohol content. That case also took into account his prior 2020 DUI conviction, which increased the penalties he faced.
Just last week, on Sept. 3, 2025, he pleaded guilty in a domestic violence case while still on probation for the 2024 DUI. The court reinstated his probation and ordered him to complete the remainder of his sentence through a county work program instead of jail time. He remains on probation in both cases.
Press Democrat reporter Madison Smalstig contributed to this story.