Charges Filed In Contra Costa Crash That Killed Mother, 6-Year-Old Son

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA — Homicide charges are part of a six-count felony complaint filed Tuesday by the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office against the driver in a crash that killed a 31-year-old woman and one of her 6-year-old twin sons.

Ralph Ellsworth White III, 20, of Vallejo, was involved in a short high-speed police pursuit just prior to the collision in Rodeo that resulted in the two deaths, the DA's Office said.

Around 7:30 p.m. Thursday, the Contra Costa Sheriff's Office notified the Hercules Police Department that the driver of a stolen Mazda SUV — later identified as White — was heading eastbound on Interstate 80 toward the City of Hercules.

According to the DA's Office, a Hercules officer saw the SUV exit Willow Avenue and tried to pull White over but he sped away from the police car. Shortly after, White collided with another car near Parker Avenue and 4th Street in unincorporated Rodeo.

White ran away from the crash but was found at a nearby liquor store and was arrested and booked into the Martinez Detention Facility.

The impact of the crash killed the driver of the car, 31-year-old Ryniqueka Dowell, and
injured her 6-year-old twin sons — one of whom died Monday from crash-related injuries. His name was Jamari; his brother, Jamani, suffered a broken leg and other injuries.

A GoFundMe campaign on behalf of Dowell and her sons garnered more than $22,000 by Tuesday night.

White, who is scheduled for arraignment at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday in Martinez, faces two counts of homicide with two enhancements for committing the offenses while on bail.

According to the DA's Office, White also faces felonies for fleeing a pursuing peace officer’s vehicle and causing serious bodily injury, a hit and run resulting in the death or injury to another person, carrying a loaded unregistered firearm, and receiving stolen property (a motor vehicle).