La Quinta woman suspected of deadly DUI due in court
A La Quinta woman accused of felony DUI after she allegedly ran from a crash that killed a 64-year-old man on Highway 74 on the Fourth of July is due back in court later this month for a bail hearing, according to sources close to the victim’s family.
Maryjane Plante, 46, was booked into the Riverside County Jail in Indio on $75,000 bail. She’s facing charges of felony hit and run, drunken driving resulting in death and gross vehicular manslaughter.
She’s made her first court appearance at the Larson Justice Center on July 8 and she recently entered a not guilty plea.
The crash happened Saturday, July 4 around 7:20 p.m. near the intersection of Highway 74 and Carrizo Road in the unincorporated community of Mountain Center, according to CHP Officer Darren Meyer.
News Channel 3 and CBS Local 2 viewers said traffic backed up for miles with July 4th traffic heading into, and out of the area.
According to the California Highway Patrol, Plante was driving a Toyota Tundra eastbound on Highway 74 near Carrizo Road when she crossed the double yellow lines and crashed head-on into a Nissan Maxima that was traveling westbound.
After the crash, Plante fled the scene on foot.
Officers said the driver of the Nissan was airlifted to Desert Regional Medical Center where he later died from his injuries. The 64-year-old from Escondido was identified as Toribio Sanchez-Vidaca; his family reached out to News Channel 3 and CBS Local 2.
A 58-year-old woman from Escondido was a passenger in the Nissan and she was taken to Eisenhower Medical Center with non life-threatening injuries.
The next day, a witness called CHP to report Plante was the woman involved in the crash. Officers found Plante at the former Lake Hemet Market on Sunday morning while she was waiting to be picked up by a friend, according to the release.
She was arrested on charges of felony driving under the influence, felony hit and run and gross vehicular manslaughter.
Sources close to the victim’s family said Plante’s case was moved to Murrieta and she’s expected back in court on September 29 for a bail hearing.
The family of Toribio Sanchez-Vidaca has started a Go Fund Me page in the wake of the deadly crash.
News Channel 3 and CBS Local 2 will post more information as the investigation moves forward.
