Suspect in triple fatal accident pleads not guilty

The woman accused of driving under the influence, causing a deadly head-on accident made her first court appearance Tuesday.

28-year-old Salinas resident Hilda Valencia pleaded not guilty at her arraignment hearing. Flores faces four felony charges including three counts of gross vehicular manslaughter and driving under the influence.

Deputy District Attorney Meredith Sillman of the DUI Vertical Prosecution Unit said that Flores is suspected of driving under the influence of drugs.

“Unfortunately, this is another example of how driving impaired effects our community, effects everyone in our community,” Sillman said. “This occurred at 5:30 in the morning when people are on the road commuting.

The Monterey County Sheriff’s office has identified the victims who died in that suspected DUI crash Friday. 49-year-old Blanca Estela Rangel of Salinas, 43-year-old Maria Teresa Rangel of Salinas and 58-year-old Manuela Marta Torres of Salinas were killed.

The driver of that vehicle involved in the crash was critically injured and is still in the hospital.

“These choices affect everyone, affect everyone on the road, and they can be avoided if somebody who has been either drinking or taking drugs or even prescription medicine either just stays at home or uses an alternate route,” Sillman said.

Flores is being held on $860,000 bail. Her preliminary hearing is set for June 25.