The woman who drove her car off a cliff along a Bay Area coastline and killed a passenger while under the influence of alcohol pleaded no contest to felony manslaughter charges, prosecutors said.
Madeline St. Pierre, 26, of Arcata was charged with vehicular manslaughter in the death of Nicolas Vargas when she drove her car off a 100-foot cliff at Pescadero State Beach on Oct. 13, killing Vargas and injuring herself and another passenger, according to the San Mateo County District Attorney. St. Pierre crashed through a metal guardrail and went over the cliff last month, coming to rest 40 feet down the embankment at the bottom of the cliff. Vargas, the back-seat passenger, was pronounced dead at the scene. St. Pierre and the front-seat passenger were treated for minor injuries, officials said. St. Pierre was intoxicated at the time, officials said. District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said St. Pierre pleaded not guilty and could face up to two years in state prison. The case has been continued to Jan. 12…