A woman who was allegedly high on methadone when she crashed her car into a power pole in El Cajon, killing her 3-year-old daughter and seriously injuring her two other children, Wednesday was ordered to stand trial on charges of gross vehicular manslaughter while impaired, child endangerment and other counts.
According to police, Brandy Teague, 32, might have fallen asleep moments before her 2010 Hyundai Accent veered off Broadway between First and Second streets about 9:45 p.m. last April 4.
Teague’s three children — ages 2, 3 and 10 — were badly hurt and taken to Rady Children’s Hospital, where 3-year-old Carlee Ramirez died.
Teague was treated at a hospital before being arrested. She faces more than 14 years in prison if convicted.
During a preliminary hearing today, witness Holly Robles testified that she saw Teague drink some fluid after the crash and the defendant told her it was “medicine.”
Carlos Ramirez, the victim’s father, testified that he often saw Teague take her “medicine” from a locking black box, saying he knew she was undergoing treatment. Ramirez said Teague had been on methadone for a year.
Firefighter/paramedic Michael Hays, who works for Cal Fire, said he had trouble freeing an unresponsive Carlee Ramirez from her booster seat when he arrived at the crash scene.
Hays said a seat belt was across the victim’s abdomen and caused visible bruising. The shoulder belt to the booster seat was behind the back of the seat, the firefighter testified.
A deputy medical examiner said the victim died from blunt force trauma to the head and a neck fracture.
Following the daylong hearing, El Cajon Superior Court Judge Lantz Lewis found that enough evidence was presented for Teague to stand trial on charges of gross vehicular manslaughter, DUI with injury, child endangerment, driving on a suspended license and possession of methamphetamine.
Teague — who cried throughout the hearing — will be back in court Dec. 14 for a readiness conference. Trial was set for Jan. 25.
— City News Service
