Suspected DUI Driver, Who Had BAC Nearly 4 Times Legal Limit During Fatal Crash, to Stand Trial

A suspected drunk driver accused of killing a San Carlos woman had consumed 12 to 13 drinks before getting behind the wheel, throwing her a combined 81 feet down the road when he hit her near Cowles Mountain, testimony during a preliminary hearing revealed. A judge determined there is enough evidence for the accused man to stand trial. 

Rocio Leamon died in August when she was hit as she crossed Navajo Road – a trip she made every day. That day, she was returning to the mountain for a second time when she was killed.

Joshua Daniel Taylor was previously charged with murder, gross vehicular manslaughter and driving under the influence of alcohol causing injury, all of which he denied. He is being held on a $2 million bond. A judge Monday decided there was enough evidence for him to stand trial. 

During testimony, authorities said at the time of the crash, Taylor had a blood alcohol level of .23 percent, nearly four times the legal limit, the equivalent of 12 to 13 drinks. 

An analysis of tire marks showed Taylor had been driving between 44 to 59 miles per hour when he hit the victim, San Diego Police Officer Christine Garcia testified in court Monday. Leamon was thrown 57 feet in the air upon impact and skidded even further once she hit the ground, landing 81 feet from the point of impact, Garcia said. 

An autopsy on the victim revealed that she suffered rib fractures, abrasions to her face, lacerations on her liver, open fractures to her femur and hemorrhaging in her scalp. Her cause of death was multiple blunt force injuries. 

Authorities testified that after the crash, Taylor ditched a vodka bottle in the bushes as he tried to get rid of incriminating evidence. 

"A witness that had observed the defendant discard an alcoholic beverage container in the bush near to the location where his truck came to rest, and then he walked me over to that location and pointed it out to me," SDPD Officer Jason Constanza testified in court Monday. 

Constanza also testified that Taylor previously admitted to prior DUI convictions, though the defense said he had not been read his Miranda rights. 

Taylor could face 15 years to life in prison if convicted.