DRIVER ALLEGEDLY STRIKES, KILLS TEACHER WHILE UNDER INFLUENCE OF POT
CHICO - A man who allegedly struck and killed a Chico woman as she jogged on Oro Chico Highway just after 9 a.m. Thursday has been arrested on suspicion of felony driving under the influence of marijuana and vehicular manslaughter.
The victim, identified as Carrie Jean Holiman, 56, is a fifth-grade teacher at Olive View School in Corning. A Corning Union Elementary School District official said she has been with the district for 29 years.
She lived in the Estates Drive area, not far from where she was struck.
Driver Jimmy Candido Flores, 25, of Chico, was arrested at the scene of the crash, about three-fourths of a mile east of Midway, by California Highway Patrol officers.
He was booked into the Butte County Jail in Oroville on charges of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and causing injury while driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. His bail was set at $215,000.
Officer Tony Nunes said Flores displayed objective symptoms of being under the influence. "He also reeked of marijuana, and his tongue was green," Nunes said.
Officials are investigating ties Flores allegedly has to a medical marijuana grow in Butte County.
Flores claimed he was driving east on Oro Chico at about 35 mph when one of two large dogs in the car jumped on his arms, causing him to swerve to the right and strike Holiman.
The driver said he believed the dog was trying to reach a window to bark at something that caught its attention.
Nunes said he had no proof the dog wasn't a factor in the tragic accident. "Regardless of that, we have to go with the impairment," he said.
No witnesses to the crash were located.
Nunes said Flores claimed to have grown up in Durham and knew the local roads. He said he thought he had seen Holiman jogging in the area on other occasions.
Flores told investigators he noticed the jogger Thursday morning, and said she was running close to the traffic lane.
Nunes said an on-scene investigation showed that Flores' vehicle traveled about four feet into a gravel shoulder and said the woman appeared to be well off the roadway.
Investigators said Holiman's body was thrown about 100 feet, and have some doubt about the speed Flores said he was traveling. Flores has a previous felony DUI conviction, the CHP said.
URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v10/n584/a03.html
Source: Chico Enterprise-Record (CA)
Author: Greg Welter
CHICO - A man who allegedly struck and killed a Chico woman as she jogged on Oro Chico Highway just after 9 a.m. Thursday has been arrested on suspicion of felony driving under the influence of marijuana and vehicular manslaughter.
The victim, identified as Carrie Jean Holiman, 56, is a fifth-grade teacher at Olive View School in Corning. A Corning Union Elementary School District official said she has been with the district for 29 years.
She lived in the Estates Drive area, not far from where she was struck.
Driver Jimmy Candido Flores, 25, of Chico, was arrested at the scene of the crash, about three-fourths of a mile east of Midway, by California Highway Patrol officers.
He was booked into the Butte County Jail in Oroville on charges of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and causing injury while driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. His bail was set at $215,000.
Officer Tony Nunes said Flores displayed objective symptoms of being under the influence. "He also reeked of marijuana, and his tongue was green," Nunes said.
Officials are investigating ties Flores allegedly has to a medical marijuana grow in Butte County.
Flores claimed he was driving east on Oro Chico at about 35 mph when one of two large dogs in the car jumped on his arms, causing him to swerve to the right and strike Holiman.
The driver said he believed the dog was trying to reach a window to bark at something that caught its attention.
Nunes said he had no proof the dog wasn't a factor in the tragic accident. "Regardless of that, we have to go with the impairment," he said.
No witnesses to the crash were located.
Nunes said Flores claimed to have grown up in Durham and knew the local roads. He said he thought he had seen Holiman jogging in the area on other occasions.
Flores told investigators he noticed the jogger Thursday morning, and said she was running close to the traffic lane.
Nunes said an on-scene investigation showed that Flores' vehicle traveled about four feet into a gravel shoulder and said the woman appeared to be well off the roadway.
Investigators said Holiman's body was thrown about 100 feet, and have some doubt about the speed Flores said he was traveling. Flores has a previous felony DUI conviction, the CHP said.
URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v10/n584/a03.html
Source: Chico Enterprise-Record (CA)
Author: Greg Welter
