Driver with Prior DUI Convictions Arrested After Napa County Crash Kills Six

NAPA COUNTY, CA – A devastating single-vehicle crash on Pope Valley Road in Napa County on Sunday evening, September 7, 2025, resulted in the deaths of six passengers and left two others, including the driver, with major injuries. The driver, identified as Norberto Celerino Villalva, 53, of Stockton, was arrested at the hospital on suspicion of DUI causing injury or death, according to the California Highway Patrol (CHP).

The incident occurred around 5:50 p.m. when a Toyota Sienna minivan, reportedly traveling southbound, veered off the rural road and collided with a tree. Six individuals were pronounced dead at the scene, making it one of Napa County's deadliest vehicle crashes in decades. Villalva and another passenger were airlifted to local trauma centers for treatment.

CHP Sgt. Andrew Barclay confirmed the arrest, stating that officers formed the opinion Celerino was driving under the influence while speaking with him at the hospital. Court records reveal Celerino has an extensive criminal history in San Joaquin County, including multiple prior DUI convictions in 2010, 2020, and 2024. He was also recently in custody for a domestic violence case and was on probation for his 2024 DUI conviction.

The Napa County Sheriff’s Office assisted at the scene, closing Pope Valley Road for over eight hours as investigators processed the wreckage. Authorities are continuing to investigate factors such as the vehicle's speed and whether occupants were wearing seatbelts. This tragedy follows a string of fatal crashes in Napa County this year, some of which have also led to murder charges for the drivers, highlighting a concerning trend of impaired driving incidents in the region.