NORTH COAST, Calif. — Napa County District Attorney Allison Haley on Tuesday announced that she has charged a Stockton man with six counts of murder for a Sept. 7 vehicle crash.

Haley charged Norberto Celerino, 53, in connection to the crash that resulted in the death of six passengers and critical injuries to two people, including himself.

In addition to murder, Celerino — who also goes by the names Norberto (Beto) Celerino Villalva, Grabien Martinez and Roberto Savaringo-Diabla — faces six felony counts of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and a felony count of DUI causing injury with two or more prior DUI convictions, recorded in San Joaquin County on Aug. 22, 2020, and Sept. 20, 2024, Haley’s office reported.

Celerino also has a third DUI conviction on his record that was not included in Tuesday’s complaint as it is older than 10 years and cannot statutorily be used to enhance the current charges, officials said.

Celerino faces several special allegations including inflicting great bodily injury with a deadly weapon, in this case, a motor vehicle); great bodily injury; that the crimes involved violence, cruelty, viciousness or callousness; that the crimes demonstrate an increasing level of seriousness compared to previous crimes; that the defendant was on probation and had prior poor performance on probation.

It is alleged that on Sunday, Sept. 7, Celerino was driving under the influence of alcohol when he crashed the vehicle he was driving into a tree along Pope Valley Road, killing six passengers and causing severe injuries to himself and another passenger.

California Highway Patrol officers and Napa County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the scene and Celerino and the surviving passenger were transported to regional hospitals, where they continue to receive treatment for their injuries. 

Police arrested Celerino on suspicion of the above charges and administratively booked him into the Napa County Department of Corrections. 

On Tuesday afternoon, Napa County Deputy District Attorney Katie Susemihl appeared in court on behalf of the People for Celerino’s arraignment. 

The court continued the case for further arraignment while the defendant is treated at the hospital, Haley’s office reported.