Woman accused of texting while driving faces trial

TUCSON, Arizona (KOLD/Gray News) – A woman is facing charges for her role in causing a car crash in Oro Valley more than four years ago that left two people dead.

Jana Giron is accused of texting while driving before causing the crash that killed 21-year-old Caitlin Festerling and 22-year-old Paul Garcia. The crash occurred in 2019 at the intersection of Shannon Road and Lambert Lane in Oro Valley.

Giron is accused of two counts of manslaughter, two counts of criminal damage, endangerment and tampering with evidence.

Prosecutors argued Giron made a decision that resulted in the deaths, but her defense said it all happened too quickly for anyone to have gotten out of the way.

Prosecutors said Giron's vehicle crashed into the rear of Festerling's car at 55 mph without braking and that she was distracted by texting.

Festerling's car then ran into a work truck, which struck the car on the passenger side.

Giron's defense told jurors that she was initially given a speeding ticket and told to just pay the ticket, but then two years later she was called to court.

A school security officer testified at the time that both Festerling and Garcia were pronounced dead at the scene.

Giron was offered a plea deal in late 2023, but she rejected it. Prosecutors offered her a deal in which she would plead guilty to involuntary manslaughter and face a prison sentence of between four and 16 years.

If convicted of manslaughter and the other charges, Giron faces seven to 42 years in prison.

The testimony could last until August 23.

Copyright 2024 Gray Local Media, Inc. All rights reserved.