A woman accused of driving drunk and causing a crash that killed a 25-year-old man in Santee narrowly avoided five other cars before the crash, according to a witness who testified against her in court Tuesday.
National City resident April Thompson, 23, faces charges of gross vehicular manslaughter and driving under the influence in connection to a fatal collision that happened the morning of December 29th on eastbound State Route 52 near the Mast Boulevard exit.
Police said at about 1 a.m., Clairemont resident Jayme Midlam was driving in his 1972 Volkswagen Beetle on eastbound SR-52, approaching the Mast Boulevard overcrossing. At the same time, Thompson was driving her Chevy 2500 pickup truck the wrong way, westbound in the eastbound lanes of the freeway.
Her truck collided head-on with Midlam’s Beetle, totaling the much smaller vehicle. Midlam was pronounced dead at the scene. Thompson sustained moderate injuries.
During a preliminary hearing Tuesday, one witness said Thompson avoided "at least five" other cars while allegedly traveling the wrong way on SR-52.
CHP officials suspected Thompson of driving under the influence at the time of the deadly crash. After being treated for her injuries at a hospital, she was booked into Las Colinas Detention Facility.
During a hearing last month, prosecutors said Thompson had a blood-alcohol level that was double the legal limit at the time of the crash. She now faces up to 10 years in prison if she’s convicted.
Photo Credit: NBC 7 San Diego