Last Updated on January 20, 2023 by C-CAR
Authorities filed charges Monday, Oct, 17, against a driver accused of a hitting a taco stand in Pomona that left one man dead and 12 other people injured. The driver, who took off after the crash, later turned herself in.
Diana Beatriz Martinez-Umana, 25, of Pomona was charged with one count of vehicular manslaughter, two counts of hit-and-run resulting in death or serious injury and eight counts of reckless driving causing injury, said Matthew Krasnowski, a spokesman for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
She wasn’t arraigned Tuesday at Pomona Superior Court because she posted bond, a court official said.
Police don’t know yet if drugs or alcohol played a role in the crash because they’re still waiting for the toxicology report.
The charges stem from a hit-and-run crash in the 1600 block of West Holt Avenue which was reported to police at 7:42 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 14.
The driver of a Nissan Sentra was heading east on Holt Avenue when she veered into westbound lanes and crashed into a taco stand, police said. She took off and officers searched for her. She returned to the scene more than an hour later and turned herself in, officials said.
Gilberto Cazares Payan, 52, died of blunt force injuries, according to the coroner’s office. Mejia didn’t know how many of the injured were still in hospital as of Tuesday.
Booking records show Martinez Umana was previously arrested by the California Highway Patrol Antelope Valley office on Nov. 20, 2021 for a felony but it didn’t show the charge. She posted bond for a $50,000 bail and was released the next day.
