‘Drunk’ California mother ‘killed friend in ATV crash’

A family is left outraged over charges involving a woman who is accused of killing her best friend in a deadly ATV crash because she was reportedly intoxicated.

Antonette Thevenin, 31, was crushed when the ATV she was riding in lost control and ejected her from her seat, with the vehicle landing on top of her during an Easter egg hunt in April.

Her best friend Carlee D’Arata, 28, was reportedly driving the vehicle at a very high speed while heavily intoxicated and flipped the vehicle in Nevada City, California.

Police claim D’Arata fled the scene, leaving Thevenin severely injured, fighting for her life, and the mother-of-one died later that day.

D’Arata, who also has children, now faces a charge of felony manslaughter while intoxicated. She may spend 10 years in prison if she is convicted of the charge. 

However, Thevenin’s family is outraged, claiming on Friday that D’Arata’s punishment isn’t severe enough. 

Thevenin’s older sister Gina Marie Brown said to CBS 13: ‘They should have filed the second-degree murder charge.’

Antonette Thevenin, 31, (pictured) was crushed she was ejected from the ATV, with the vehicle landing on top of her in Nevada City, California. Her family is outraged that D’Arata is only facing a manslaughter charge, saying it should be a more severe charge on Friday

Trish Strom, Thevenin’s mother, added: ‘Unfortunately, I don’t have any remorse for her right now. 

‘Her going to prison is not going to bring my daughter back. But she gets to see her children when she comes out too.’   

The day of the tragic accident Thevenin and D’Arata were attending an Easter egg hunt party when D’Arata drove three of her friends around on an ATV, reported Fox 40. 

Witnesses claim D’Arata was heavily intoxicated when she was driving the 2007 four-seat Yahama Rhino and eventually flipped the vehicle, sending Thevenin flying.

Thevenin was not wearing a seat belt when the vehicle crashed at Old Coach Way, near Lower Colfax Road in the Colfax/Grass Valley area.

Kelley Riley who was at the party, claimed that D’Arata and the other riders fled the scene, running away and leaving Thevenin under the 1,000-pound ATV.

Police claim that D’Arata fled the scene, leaving her best friend pinned underneath the 1,000-pound ATV. Thevenin (left and right) was not wearing a seat belt when the vehicle crashed

Riley added to Fox 40: ‘A few minutes later one of them came up the road just screaming and yelling and I just ran in that direction because I knew something really bad had happened.

‘There was no way I was gonna leaver her there. I sat with her, talked to her, told her it was gonna be okay and prayed with her. I didn’t know that that was like the last time.’ 

Thevenin was taken via helicopter to a hospital but she later died that night. 

California Highway Patrol later tracked down D’Arata at her home, reported The Union.

CHP Officer Greg Tassone said: ‘She was determined to be significantly impaired from alcohol at the time of the collision. CHP officers also determined she has a prior DUI conviction.’ 

Brown claims that she knew D’Arata had a drinking problem, adding to Fox 40: ‘I spent a lot of countless days, hours, years talking with Carlee about recovery.’

The vehicle crashed at Old Coach Way, near Lower Colfax Road in the Colfax/Grass Valley area (pictured)

At the time of the accident, Strom said she didn’t have any negative attitudes toward D’Arta, saying to Fox 40: ‘I’m absolutely positive nobody woke up that morning and said they were going to hurt somebody else.

‘We’ve gotten together praying for Carlee, we love her, we don’t wish any thing bad for her, and I wouldn’t want to be in her shoes right now.’

However, as details emerged about the case, Strom was left furious.

She said on Friday: ‘They just left her there. The fact that her and her husband have never come forward to say they’re sorry, not a card, not anything.’ 

D’Arata could face up to 10 years in prison if she is convicted. Her next court date appearance is in September.