Salinas woman with history of driving offenses arrested for DUI

A 49-year-old woman with a past conviction for vehicular manslaughter is facing multiple charges after Salinas police say she drove under the influence Saturday and struck another car, injuring multiple people.

Deborah Olenick was driving northbound on north Main Street Saturday afternoon when she drove over the raised cement divider and struck the car driven by Gudalupe Ayon head-on.

Ayon, 31, had been driving in the southbound lane. She and her three passengers — included a pregnant woman and a three-month-old baby — were all transported to local hospitals for various injuries.

Monday afternoon, Salinas police say two of Ayon’s passengers remained hospitalized — including the pregnant woman, who suffered broken ribs and an injured hip. Her unborn child is expected to be OK. The infant is also OK.

Ayon suffered extensive bruising all over her body but has been released from the hospital.

Olenick was found to have been driving under the influence of prescription drugs and had a suspended license. A background check showed Olenick has been the driver in at least 12 documented traffic collisions in Salinas and was found at fault in 11 of the 12.

In 1991 she was convicted of vehicular manslaughter when she struck and killed a pedestrian.

Olernick was booked into the Monterey County Jail on suspicion of DUI, DUI causing injury and driving on a suspended license.