The victim's family members are struggling to move on from their tragedy and the punishment for the woman who caused it didn't help. On February 15, 2014, 43-year-old Juana Martinez Bejarano, of Riverdale, ran a stop sign and broadsided a Ford SUV carrying 29-year-old Esmeralda Tafoya-Saucedo and four children. The SUV burst into flames, and all on board were killed. Ms. Martinez Bejarano admits crashing into the SUV but denied responsibility for the deaths, claiming that a manufacturing defect caused the Ford to explode. The CHP contends that Ms. Martinez Bejarano was negligent because she recklessly ran the stop sign and was driving without a license. The crash resulted in a misdemeanor manslaughter conviction. If found guilty of vehicular manslaughter, she could go to prison. It is unclear why Ms. Martinez Bejarano did not have a license. According to the accident report, she wears a patch over her right eye, which she lost in her childhood due to a medical condition. Joe Saucedo, who was following his family when the crash happened, tried to rescue them, but the intense heat stopped him. A witness to the crash also told the CHP that the Ford was engulfed in flames up to 15 feet high and the victims were trapped inside. Court records say she had gone to Hanford to shop and and was returning home when the collision occurred. The victims were going to a birthday party in Fresno, but they first had to pick up other relatives. Because of the collision, they never made it to the relative’s home. In her defense, her lawyer states that the sentence was fair & She wasn’t speeding, texting or talking on a cell phone, she ran a stop sign,” he said. “It was an accident.” Because Martinez Bejarano was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol, she was allowed to plead no contest to a misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter charge and to driving without a license. A family with so much to grieve suffered another blow in court. The unlicensed driver who ran a stop sign and caused a fiery crash -- killing a mother and four children – DID NOT GO TO JAIL FOR HER CRIME! *Esmeralda Tafoya died alongside her 4children Isaac, Nikko, Jada and Breanna. That’s 5 lives, how is that fair again* After spending one day in jail, Martinez Bejarano was freed on $10,100 bail. In announcing the sentence, the misdemeanor plea, which only carries a maximum penalty of one year in jail for vehicular manslaughter and 180 days in jail for driving without a license. “Nothing the court can do can fill that void Nothing can bring the victims back. This is a tragedy that the court can’t imagine.” Martinez Bejarano was then sentenced to the maximum penalty, but suspended most of it. She was told that she first must complete 89 days on the adult offender work program. Once that is done, she must do 90 days on electronic monitoring. The CHP said Martinez Bejarano was negligent because she was driving without a license and should have known about the stop sign since she lives in the area. So NOW we are asking all family & friends, as well as the community to please sign this petition to support the family in asking the courts for an appeal. Although nothing will ever bring our loved ones back,this sentence is NOT FAIR for 5 lives taken. She may not have been on drugs,texting,or talking on the phone but she knew she was breaking the law the moment she got into the driver side & pulled away to go shopping. Not only did she have No license she failed to stop at the stop sign, the opinion misstates the facts, has an error of law,& has a significant omission in the facts or law or failed to consider an important argument. This complaint is to the court of an injustice done or error committed & now being called upon to correct or reverse. THANK YOU EVERYONE (IN ADVANCE)FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT & FOR SIGNING!!! *R.I.P~ESMERALDA,BREANNA,JADA,NIKKO,& BABY ISAAC~We Love & Miss You,Forever In Our Heartz*