Santa Ana – Orange County prosecutors have filed upgraded charges of vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated against Amber Kristine Calderon, a 43-year-old Long Beach woman, after toxicology results confirmed the presence of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and marijuana in her system when she drove onto the shoulder of Pacific Coast Highway and hit three bicyclists, killing Eric John Williams, a 45-year-old father of four and critically injuring two of his friends in an early morning hit-and-run crash in October.
The driver, who was on her way to work, did not stop after hitting the three bicyclists despite having a flat tire and obvious damage to her car. Instead, she continued driving another 2/3 mile and blowing through a state park parking lot kiosk without paying before being blocked in by another driver who witnessed the crash and followed her to the parking lot.
Calderon is now charged with one felony count of vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated without gross negligence, driving under the influence of drugs causing bodily injury, a violation of Section 11395(b)(1) of the Health and Safety Code, possession of hard drugs with two or more prior convictions, one felony count of hit and run causing permanent injury or death, and two felony counts of hit and run with injury. She faces a maximum sentence of 12 years and four months.
In addition to the upgraded charges, an Orange County Superior Court judge also granted the prosecution’s request to give Calderon a Watson advisement, which warned Calderon that if she drives under the influence of drugs or alcohol she can be charged with murder. Calderon was also ordered not to drive, not to consume alcohol or drugs without a valid prescription, not to possess drugs without a valid prescription, and not to be in any establishment where the primary item of sale is marijuana…