San Diego criminal defense attorneys - DUI / drunk driving court news

A young Fountain Valley woman who was allegedly California DUI - under the influence of alcohol and narcotics when she rolled her car on Interstate 5 in Camp Pendleton, killing a passenger, pleaded not guilty to vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.

Marian Teri Kahale, 18, was arrested after the crash, which took place just after 2 a.m. Sunday on southbound Interstate 5 near Las Pulgas Road.

The San Diego DUI accident killed friend Natasha Dannov, also 18. Kahale, who was crying through most of the DUI arraignment hearing, had her right arm in a cast and sling.

Deputy District Attorney Chryseis Starros alleged that Kahale and Dannov celebrated the victim's birthday at Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, where the defendant took the drug ecstasy, then went to a party in Mission Viejo, where she drank vodka.

Toxicology results on Dannov's body were pending.

Just inside San Diego County, Kahale's SUV rolled "multiple times" when she purportedly lost control of the vehicle.

"The front passenger was ejected and was deceased on the spot," Starros said.

A bottle of vodka and can of beer were found in the vehicle, but it was unknown how much of the beverages remained, the prosecutor alleged.

About an hour and a half after the crash, the defendant's blood-alcohol level was .12 percent, above the state limit of .08 percent, she claimed.

Judge Marshall Hockett set bail at $250,000 and ordered the defendant to abstain from alcohol and driving if she's released. A January felony DUI readiness conference was set.