Woman Accused Of Killing Menlo Park Couple Had Prior DUI Conviction
MENLO PARK (CBS SF) -- A Redwood City woman suspected of striking two people Thursday in Menlo Park as they walked their dog has a prior drunk driving conviction from 2012, according to San Mateo County court records.
Marjorie Reitzell, 54, allegedly struck a man and a woman walking in the bike lane on Chilco Street west of Constitution Drive shortly before 7 p.m. Thursday, according to Menlo Park police.
The two victims, identified by the San Mateo County coroner's office as Menlo Park residents Kamal Singh, 45, and Balbir Singh, 50, were struck from behind and thrown into the air and onto the street, according to police Cmdr. Dave Bertini.
Police arrived and found the couple dead at the scene and the dog they were walking injured.
The car then swerved across the center divider, hit another car, and slammed into a tree, Bertini said.
The suspect's car was still against the tree when police arrived and the driver, Reitzell, was taken to Stanford Hospital, Bertini said.
Investigators concluded that Reitzell had been drinking and arrested her at the hospital on suspicion of two counts of gross vehicular manslaughter and two counts of felony driving under the influence, Bertini said. He said she would be booked into San Mateo County jail upon her release from the hospital.
The car that Reitzell allegedly struck remained at the scene. No one inside was injured and the vehicle sustained only minor damage, Bertini said.
San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said he expected to receive the case from police on Monday.
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