Beaver Dam Woman Convicted On Vehicular Homicide Charge

(Beaver Dam) A Beaver Dam woman was found guilty Tuesday of Vehicular Homicide by Intoxicated Use of a Motor Vehicle. Cindy Lara Esparza entered a no contest plea to the felony charge, two additional felony counts were dismissed but read into the record. In April of 2019, Lara-Esparza was driving when her vehicle went off Madison Street Bridge and into the Beaver Dam River which resulted in the death of a passenger. Authorities were dispatched to the area near Ryan Cantafio’s Way, behind Park Plaza Pizza, at 1:52am. Beaver Dam Police Chief John Kreuziger said that the vehicle was upside down in the river when officers jumped in, encountering waist-deep water and strong currents. The officers were able to get the driver’s side door open and remove Lara-Esparza. The 24-year-old sustained non-life-threatening injuries but her 23-year-old boyfriend, Jared Frakes, was killed. Acquaintances told police the couple where having drinks earlier that night at Johnny’s Lounge. According to the criminal complaint, the bartender working that night said he (quote) “felt like they shouldn’t be driving.” Lara-Esparza consented to a blood draw to test for alcohol in her system which returned a result of point-two-one-two (.212). A pre-sentencing investigation was ordered and Lara-Esparza is due back in court on October 22nd.