A San Jose woman has been booked on charges of manslaughter, hit-and-run and DUI, and the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office will be receiving the case next, as reported by the Mercury News.
L.D.M., 28, is accused of driving under the influence of alcohol, and fatally striking D.P., 79, while the victim was tending to her front yard on Sunday May 1. L.D.M., and other passengers in the vehicle, allegedly left the victim and tried to escape on foot.
State police have reported that L.D.M. faces one count of manslaughter, two counts of hit-and-run and one count of driving under the influence.
She was also found to be driving without a license.
While D.P. worked in her yard, a Chevy Suburban jumped the curb and drove across her front lawn, ramming D.P. into her house. Per witness J.Y, the deceased woman's grandson, the front corner of the home, near Calero and Snell Avenues, was crushed.
The crash broke through a wall in the home's front room and plaster was sent flying across the room and into the home's hallway and kitchen.
Other family members, including her daughter and her daughter's children that live in the home, were physically unharmed.
Before L.D.M. was involved in the fatal accident, she was reportedly driving away from another. Police stated that she had just fled a minor collision - one in which the other driver chose to follow her vehicle to track her down - and was attempting escape when she jumped D.P.'s curb.
In the former incident L.D.M.'s Suburban struck a Honda sedan near Blossom Hill Road and Entrada Cedros, close to Highway 85. Police stated that though the damage was minor, L.D.M. left the incident.
From there, L.D.M. was being trailed by the driver of the Honda sedan.
As the Honda began to gain ground on L.D.M., she tried to avoid being caught by making a sudden left onto Roading Drive.
That is when the Suburban made contact with the curb, stone wall, the home - and killed D.P.
D.P. had resided in the home since 1989, according to the family, and was retired from working in the Alum Rock School District.
Several neighbors either witnessed, or heard the sounds of, the collision. Some came to the victim's aid, while some tried to follow the Suburban.
When L.D.M. eventually had a third accident that morning - the Suburban struck a different Honda that was parked on Bridle Way - officers arrived and were able to detain L.D.M. and all of the passengers as they tried to escape on foot.
The driver of the second Honda, though washing his car, was able to escape harm as he stepped away from his vehicle just moments before L.D.M. crashed into it.
Other witnesses claim to have assisted in the capture of both driver and passengers.
All of the passengers of the Suburban were released after questioning.
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