A woman accused of running down a man on an Oceanside sidewalk and then leaving the scene appeared "disheveled" and emotional when he first saw her, an Oceanside police officer testified Monday.
Esteysi "Stacy" Sanchez faces criminal charges in the June 27 crash on a sidewalk along Mission Avenue east of El Camino Real and north of State Route 56.
Jack Tenhulzen, 69, was killed when he was struck by a vehicle while walking on the sidewalk. The force of the crash stripped Tenhulzen of his clothes, prosecutors said.
Tenhulzen's leg detached from his body and flew through the back window, landing on the trunk of the car, police said.
Officers found Sanchez at her house, approximately two blocks from where she left the car.
Oceanside Police Officer Brad Hunter testified he saw the defendant in the front door of her home.
“She appeared disheveled, her hair, her clothing,” Hunter said adding that Sanchez appeared to be crying at the time.
Two hours after the crash, prosecutors said Sanchez had a blood alcohol level of 0.18-0.19, more than double the legal limit.
Sanchez continued driving for approximately half a mile, police said. She parked the vehicle and walked away before officers arrived, police said.
Shortly after she abandoned the car, prosecutors say Sanchez called her boyfriend, walked home and changed her outfit.
Also Monday, an acquaintance Marino Estrada testified that he saw the defendant consuming alcohol at a club the night before the crash.
A friend of Sanchez also testified that he attempted to stop her fron driving at least four or five times prior to the crash.
Sanchez has pleaded not guilty to a number of charges including a murder charge, in addition to several felonies, including gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, hit and run, driving under the influence of alcohol causing injury, driving with a measurable blood alcohol causing injury and a misdemeanor count of driving without a license.
Sanchez could face more than 15 years in prison if convicted.
