A judge on Friday denied a motion to dismiss some of the charges in the case of a Freedom woman accused of driving while intoxicated and causing a crash that killed an Aromas man.
Maria Villegas de Munoz is facing trial on felony charges of gross vehicular manslaughter and driving under the influence causing injury to more than one person. The charges stem from a September 2010 accident that killed 49-year-old James Parker. Parker was riding his motorcycle near Thompson Road when he was struck by a car driven by Munoz, according to prosecutors.
Parker’s then-15-year-old son was on the back of the motorcycle and was injured.
According to prosecutor Jason Gill, the evidence indicates that the car driven by Munoz drifted across the center dividing lines. Her blood alcohol level was allegedly 0.15 percent at the time.
Judge John Salazar on Friday agreed to uphold all of the charges against Munoz, as outlined in her preliminary hearing. She’s due back in court on March 21 to set a trial date.
