A man with five previous DUI arrests on his record is now accused of a sixth after a fatal, head-on crash over the weekend, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Officials say Jose Pineda, 45, was under the influence of alcohol when he drifted over the double yellow lines of Old Highway 395 Saturday evening and slammed into an oncoming Volvo station wagon.
The Volvo’s 68-year-old female passenger, identified Monday as Sandra Lee Saylor of Fallbrook, died north of Rainbow Glen Road near Fallbrook, while the driver and Pineda were taken to the hospital.
CHP officials say Pineda has been convicted of three misdemeanor DUIs: one in 1993, another in 2003, and the last in 2006.
In 2012 and 2014, the suspect was charged with misdemeanor DUI and driving on a suspended license in Riverside County, but bench warrants were issued in both cases when Pineda failed to appear to face the charges.
Pineda is still in the hospital with major injuries, so he may be arraigned from his hospital bed, the CHP says.
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Neighbor Darla Wells told NBC 7 more about Saylor Monday evening. She said the victim was a retired nurse who had just started volunteering at a local library, teaching children how to read.
"The world lost a wonderful person," said Wells. "She was very kind. a kind neighbor. Anyone who goes into nursing and spends their life teaching...there's a certain warm heart that goes with that."
According to Wells, losing Saylor will have a huge impact on the community.
"It's sad. It's very very sad," she said. "I don't know what to say. I'm devastated."
Officials have not released the name of the third man who was driving Saylor at the time of the crash. They say he is bruised, but he has no severe injuries.
