A Woodland woman who struck and killed a truck driver who was standing outside his big rig last October is due in court this week to face criminal charges.
Jacqueline Ochoa Torres, 26, was arrested last weekend on a felony warrant charging her with vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and driving under the influence in connection with the collision, which occurred Oct. 2 on westbound Interstate 80 near Mace Boulevard.
According to the California Highway Patrol, truck driver Giussepe Santuccio had pulled to the side of the freeway shortly after 6 p.m. and was standing behind the rear trailer of his rig when Torres veered onto the shoulder to avoid slower-moving traffic.
Santuccio, 51, of Hillsborough, died at the scene. His cousin, Eugenio Mirabella, said Santuccio emigrated to the United States from Sicily about 25 years ago and worked two jobs as a heavy equipment operator and truck driver.
“He was a very conscientious man and a hard worker,” Mirabella said. “I used to call him and he’d always say, ‘I’m at work.’ He was planning a lot for his retirement.”
Santuccio had a grown son and had lost his own father shortly before his death, Mirabella said.
Torres, who was hospitalized with moderate injuries following the crash, is due in Yolo Superior Court at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday to enter a plea to the charges. She is being held on $250,000 bail at the Yolo County Jail.
— Reach Lauren Keene at lkeene@davisenterprise.net or 530-747-8048. Follow her on Twitter at @laurenkeene