Family of woman who drowned in California aqueduct demand barriers

HESPERIA, CA (FOX 11) - The family of a woman who drowned after her car crashed into the California aqueduct in Hesperia last week is demanding barriers be erected along the canal.

Family members of 24-year-old Xantel Linares spoke out at Tuesday evening's Hesperia city council meeting, demanding that the council push the state to put up protective barriers along the aqueduct.

"I'm fed up with people losing their lives in the aqueduct when it could have been prevented," said Annette Linares, Xantel's sister. "My mother got a phone call, after my sister crashed, the phone call was less than a minute and all it was saying was mommy, I crashed, mommy I'm in the water, mommy, I love you, that's the last thing she said to my mother."

Linares isn't the only one to have lost her life in the aqueduct.

In March, 31-year-old Christina Estrada and her two sons, Jeremiah and Noah, were all killed when their car plunged into the aqueduct.

In July of 1998, a woman was rescued after her car went into the waters, and just four days after that, the body of missing screenwriter Gary Devore was found in the aqueduct after he crashed his Ford Explorer in it.

Even though the aqueduct is under the control of the state, Linares' family's message to the Hesperia city council was loud and clear.

"I will not stop, if I get arrested well I'm gonna get arrested doing something for my baby sister and justice for all the other families that lost their lives," Linares said.

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