Charges have been filed against the woman Paso Robles police say was under the influence when she hit and fatally injured a man who tried to stop her from driving.
The charges filed Wednesday against Sarah Hale, 23, include felony gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, driving under the influence of alcohol causing injury, driving with a blood alcohol level above .08 percent causing injury and leaving the scene of an accident.
Special allegations of fleeing the scene of a crime and inflicting great bodily injury were also filed.
Hale was arrested following the Dec. 28, 2018 incident near Santa Maria Brewing Co., located at 14th and Park in Paso Robles.
Investigators said several friends of the Hale were trying to stop her from driving. The victim, identified as Jose Montesguillen and referred to as J.M. in the criminal complaint, was also attempting to stop her, but was thrown from the vehicle and hit the pavement, police said.
Montesguillen suffered major injuries and was hospitalized, but died a short time later.
Hale took off and was located at her home a short time later, according to police. She was arrested and booked into the San Luis Obispo County Jail on suspicion of driving under the influence and hit and run but posted bail and was released before the victim died, officials say.
Hale is expected to be arraigned on the charges next Thursday.
