San Diego, California Talk Radio Station - 760 KFMB AM - 760kfmbNot guilty plea from Yuma Marine accused in alcohol-related crash that killed fellow marine

Not guilty plea from Yuma Marine accused in alcohol-related crash that killed fellow marine

SAN DIEGO (CNS) - A Marine accused of driving drunk and causing a rollover accident on a Mission Valley freeway interchange that killed a fellow Marine pleaded not guilty Thursday to three felony charges, including gross vehicular manslaughter.

Ashley Louise Maya, 21, was ordered held on $300,000 bail.

Deputy District Attorney James Waters told Judge David Szumowski that Maya was northbound on state Route 163 about 3:15 a.m. Sunday, transitioning onto eastbound Interstate 8, when she lost control of her vehicle and it rolled over, ejecting two passengers.

One ejected passenger, a 25-year-old woman from El Cajon, suffered a broken back and lacerated liver, Waters said. The other ejected passenger -- 24-year-old Cpl. Pedro Conceicao -- died at the scene.

A third passenger, a 23-year-old man from El Cajon, suffered minor injuries and was able to crawl out of the wreckage.

Maya was hospitalized after the crash but was booked into jail Tuesday.

Conceicao, as well as Maya, was stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma.

Waters, speaking to reporters outside court, said the defendant blood-alcohol level was measured at .12 percent shortly after the accident.

Besides gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, Maya is charged with DUI causing injury and DUI with a blood-alcohol level of .08 percent or higher.

She faces more than 10 years in state prison if convicted, according to Waters.

A bail review was scheduled for Feb. 23, with a preliminary hearing set for March 1.