DUI Suspect Jailed In Hit-And-Run Death Of SJ Woman
SAN JOSE (CBS SF) - A 79-year-old San Jose woman gardening in her front yard on Sunday morning was struck and killed by a suspected drunken driver who was fleeing the scene of an accident, police said.
Leticia Martinez, 28, of San Jose, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, manslaughter, hit-and-run and driving without a license, according to police.
At about 9:40 a.m., Martinez was driving a Chevrolet Suburban when she crashed into a Honda Civic at the intersection of Blossom Hill Road and Entrada Cedros, according to police.
She didn't stop and instead fled south on Snell Avenue as the driver of the Honda followed her, police said.
But as she was turning left onto east Roading Drive, Martinez lost control of her car, causing it to jump the curb and veer straight into the front yard of a house where the elderly woman was gardening, according to police.
She struck the woman and the house.
The victim was taken to Santa Clara Valley Medical Center where she was pronounced dead. She has been identified by the Santa Clara County medical examiner's office as Diana Pundsack.
Martinez also fled the scene of that collision and then struck a parked Honda Civic parked in the 5000 block of Bridle Way.
She and her three passengers, two men and one woman, all exited the Suburban and fled, but officers stopped them and took them into custody. Martinez was booked into Santa Clara County Jail. All three passengers were released.
Anyone with information on the case is asked to call Detective Nqui Scherry at (408) 277-4654. Those who wish to remain anonymous may call Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers at (408) 947-STOP (7867) or visit http://svcrimestoppers.org/.
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