Early Morning Crash Ends in Untimely Death
A heartbreaking, fatal car crash involving two teenagers, Natasha Leodjaja and Silvia Chalista, resulted in an untimely death for Chalista and felony DUI charges for Leodjaja.
Early in the morning on February 23rd, eighteen-year-old Leodjaja was driving southbound on Highway 101 in Redwood City when she veered off the road. Her black Audi A3 drove down an embankment and eventually went airborne. Around 3 a.m., California Highway Patrol officers received calls that a car was seen flipped over on its roof after colliding into a light pole and two trees on Veterans Boulevard.
When officers got there, Leodjaja was rushed to the Stanford Medical Center for evaluation and treatment for her critical injuries. Silvia Chalista, also eighteen years old, had been riding in the passenger seat at the time of the incident; she was unfortunately pronounced dead at the scene.
While at the hospital, medical professionals conducted a blood test and alcohol breath test on Leodjaja. Although her test result revealed her blood-alcohol level to be between 0.6% and 0.7% (below the legal limit of 0.8%), Leodjaja admitted to taking “lots of shots” before voluntarily getting behind the wheel.
Prosecutors alleged that her “objective symptoms of intoxication” and her own indication of ‘lots’ of alcohol consumption are why she should be charged. Results of another blood sample remain confidential.
Additional Investigation Pending
Natasha Leodjaja pleaded not guilty to her charges which include felony vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and driving under the influence. The court set her bail at $100,000.
Although she is no longer in custody according to jail records, she must continue to comply with other conditions of her bail. Additional investigation surrounding this fatal car crash is ongoing.
The post Young Passenger Killed in Suspected DUI Crash in Redwood City appeared first on Law Offices of Taylor and Taylor - DUI Central.