KGET in Bakersfield reports that a woman believed to have been responsible for the deaths of two people in an alcohol-fueled crash has been ordered to stand trial on Wednesday.
According to court documents, a judge found the evidence against Deleah Johnson, 19, to be strong enough for a trial to proceed. Johnson is facing two counts of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, DUI causing injury, and DUI with a blood-alcohol content greater than .08 percent.
On August 27, 2022, Johnson was driving a silver Toyota Solara when she lost control of her vehicle and rolled it down an embankment north of Lebec Service Road near Bakersfield.
A 20-year-old man and an 18-year-old woman were riding as passengers in Johnson’s vehicle. Both passengers were thrown from the car. California Highway Patrol officers arriving at the scene of the single-vehicle crash declared the man dead at the scene.
The young woman and Johnson were both transported via ambulance to Kern Medical Center. The female passenger died on August 31.
Toxicology and breath samples taken from Johnson following the crash showed that she had a blood-alcohol level of .15 percent – nearly twice the legal limit.
Johnson was released from jail on a $120,000 bond. She is due back in court on June 27, where a trial date will be set for the case.
