The Lompoc woman charged with causing a deadly crash while trying to get away from authorities at the beginning of the month has pleaded not guilty to the latest charges against her.
The attorney for Dinara Arevalo appeared in a Lompoc courtroom Thursday morning and entered the plea on her behalf, according to the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office, who adds that her attorney also said Arevalo is not competent to stand trial.
The charges against the 24-year-old include vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and evading an officer causing death following the Oct. 1 pursuit and crash on Highway 101 near Gaviota.
During the pursuit, Arevalo reportedly lost control and hit a vehicle, which then crashed into another truck. A passenger in the truck later died from his injuries. Another passenger in one of the vehicles was injured.
Arevalo, who suffered minor injuries, according to CHP, remains in custody at Santa Barbara County Jail in lieu of $200,000 bail.
She is due back in court Nov. 6 where her competency to stand trial will be addressed.
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Additional charges filed againstcrash, pursuit suspect following death of passenger
