Warrant issued for woman accused of DUI, killing two in collision

A Sutter County judge issued an arrest warrant Friday for a woman accused of being under the influence and killing two in a collision last summer.

The Sutter County District Attorney’s Office filed charges against Linda M. Miller, 32, of Chico, on Friday. Charges included two counts of second-degree murder, one count of felony gross vehicular manslaughter, misdemeanor willfully driving the wrong way on a divided highway causing injury or death, misdemeanor driving while privilege is suspended, and two sentence enhancements (one for a DUI prior and the other for bodily injury on multiple victims).

Eusebio Arias Jr., 76, and Elma Arias, 70, both of Plumas Lake, were killed Aug. 31 as they were passing a vehicle on Highway 70 south of Kempton Road.

A witness told police that he was driving his company’s box van when the Honda the Ariases were driving slowly passed going around 60 to 65 mph, according to a declaration of probable cause.

Miller, who was also driving a Honda, was approaching when Eusebio Arias veered to the left to avoid a crash, while Miller veered right into the center divider directly into their path. The witness pulled over, called 911 and went to assist when he saw that the Ariases appeared to be dead.

California Highway Patrol officers reported that Miller was not coherent when they arrived, and she was transported to UC Davis and taken into surgery. Since officers could not perform a field sobriety test, they requested a warrant for a urine sample – which tested positive for amphetamine, benzodiazepine and opiates, according to the declaration of probable cause. Amphetamines are stimulants, while benzodiazepine and opiates are depressants.

Miller had not been arrested as of Monday evening. Business hours: Monday-friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Main number .................... Steve Miller ......................

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