A 24-year-old motorist suspected of plowing into a pickup truck at an east Riverside intersection while driving under the influence of drugs, killing the other driver, was released from custody Monday after posting a $75,000 bond.
Irene Diamond Sandoval of Riverside was arrested and booked into the Robert Presley Jail Saturday morning on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and DUI resulting in death.
Sandoval procured bail Monday morning and was released from the downtown jail.
According to the Riverside Police Department, at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, the woman was at the wheel of a 2019 Toyota Camry going westbound on University at an unconfirmed speed when she entered the intersection of University and Park Avenue.
Sgt. Dan Macias said 60-year-old Jorge Contreras of Riverside was going southbound on Park in his 2004 Nissan Titan pickup and crossed University at the same time as the Toyota.
The intersection is controlled by traffic signals, but Macias did not specify who had the right of way.
The suspect plowed into the driver’s side of Contreras’ Nissan, the sergeant alleged.
Riverside Fire Department paramedics reached the wreck within a few minutes and pronounced the victim dead at the scene.
Sandoval was not injured.
“She was evaluated by a certified drug recognition expert, who determined she was driving under the influence of cannabis,” Macias said.
The suspect was taken into custody without incident.
The intersection was partially closed for several hours while an investigation was conducted and the wreckage was cleared.
Background information on Sandoval was unavailable.
The case was expected to be submitted to the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office for review in the coming weeks.