Man charged with vehicular manslaughter
A 26-yeur-old Fuirfield mun pleuded guilty lust month und fuces sentencing in Februury in u sullejo courtroom.
A 26-year- old Fairfield man, charged with killing a Vacaville woman and seriously injuring another after a May 2019 head- on collision in Dixon, pleaded guilty last month and faces sentencing in February in a Vallejo courtroom.
Judge Daniel Healy ordered Juan Jose Diaz, who was out of custody when he pleaded on Nov. 25 in Department 2, to return at 10 a.m. Feb. 11 to hear his fate in the Justice Building in Vallejo.
As charged with vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence of Linda M. Shier, 63, a felony, Diaz faces as much as a year in Solano County Jail or possibly a four- to 10-year state prison term.
In the Solano County District Attorney’s Office complaint dated Jan. 28 of this year, he also is charged with injuring Glenda Dew, 55, of Vacaville, the driver of the vehicle he struck near Highway 113 south of Casey Road at about 6 p.m. May 30, 2019.
In a second count, Diaz is charged with driving with an expired license, a misdemeanor.
He is represented by criminal defense attorney Laina T. Chikhani, who, at press time Wednesday, had not responded to Reporter requests for comment and more information.
Deputy District Attorney Susan Rados filed the criminal complaint, but family members, including Shier’s daughter, Leona Smith, said Deputy DA Jennifer Wilson was the most recent prosecutor of record.
A copy of the collision’s repor t by the California Highway Patrol indicated that alcohol was not a factor in the crash, but the reporting officer indicated Diaz was possibly under the influence of a drug. A Dixon firefighter/ paramedic reportedly told the CHP officer that marijuana was found in the vehicle Diaz was driving.
“The Hyundai turned left, into the southbound lane, for an unknown reason,” according to the CHP statement at the time. “The Hyundai collided head- on into a Dodge Caravan, traveling southbound on SR113.”
Dew was transported by ambulance to Kaiser Permanente Vacaville Medical Center with major injuries. Shier was pronounced dead at the scene.
Diaz was transported to Kaiser by CHP helicopter. He also suffered major injuries.